Uncertainty over Britain’s future outside of the EU has been cited as one of the reasons for flatlining sales in Scotland’s shops.
The latest Retail Sales Index for Scotland, covering the period April to June 2016, shows that the volume of Retail Sales increased by 0.2% in the first quarter of 2016 and grew by 3.2% annually.
The value of Retail Sales, without adjusting for inflation, remained flat in the second quarter of 2016 (0.0% change) and grew by 0.7% annually.
As the industry toils through an intense period of structural, economic, and regulatory change, Ewan MacDonald-Russell, Head of Policy and External Affairs for the Scottish Retail Consortium, said retailers were responding by becoming more productive through investment in people, technology, and more efficient logistics systems.
“However, that’s difficult when facing weak retail sales, falling shop prices, and rising government-imposed tax and regulatory costs,” he added. “When the uncertainty resulting from the Brexit vote is also considered it becomes clear just how hard it is on the high street right now.”
MacDonald-Russell called on the Scottish Government to work with the SRC in supporting retailers to help grow the economy.
