Retail sales have risen for the second successive quarter, according to the Scottish Government’s Retail Sales Index. Over the year as a whole the value of retail sales grew by 1.2% in Scotland and at 1.6% in the UK.
The Scottish Retail Consortium found the figures “encouraging” but that they highlighted the increasing amount of work put in by retailers to grow sales in the face of falling shop prices.
David Lonsdale, Director of the SRC, said: “The period leading up to Christmas is the most important trading period in the year for many retailers and with shop price inflation at a record low and pay growth outstripping inflation consumers are set to benefit from some great deals. “
With announcements on the UK and devolved budgets upcoming, Lonsdale is looking for convincing action from the Chancellor and Scotland’s Finance Secretary to improve consumer confidence in the economy, as well resistance to stem “the relentless rise in government-inspired cost pressures”.
“Rising costs divert and exhaust resources which otherwise would be used to grow the business,” he concluded.
