Scottish sales plummeted to their lowest decline on record as the Covid-19 crisis unfolded in March, according to the latest SRC-KPMG Scottish Retail Sales Monitor.
Total Sales plunged to -13.0%, the lowest figure since the monitor launched in January 1999.
It was a month of two halves, pre- and post-lockdown, with growth of 9% in the first three weeks of March, followed by a decline of 44% in the last two. The first half saw the stockpiling of essentials build up momentum to unprecedented levels. After the lockdown was announced on 23 March, accompanied by the closure of non-essential stores, both Food and Non-Food experienced declines in the last two weeks of the period.
Total Food sales increased 12.1% versus March 2019, when they had decreased by 1.3%. This is above the 3-month and 12-month averages of 6.1% and 3.5% respectively. The 3-month and 12-month averages remained above the UK’s levels of 5.1% and 2.4% respectively.
This reflected the panic buying which culminated in the week prior to the announcement of a lockdown. The rush was not just on food but also on alcoholic drinks, as well as hygiene and cleaning products. However, this was followed by two weeks of declines, as social distancing measures resulted in almost permanent queues outside supermarkets and shoppers used up some of the stock bought in the preceding weeks. The supermarkets’ loss was the convenience sector’s gain however, as shoppers turned to their local stores to make their regular shopping trips instead of just topping up there.
Commenting on what he described as “the most difficult month in a generation” for retail, Ewan MacDonald Russell, Head of Policy & External Affairs at the Scottish Retail Consortium, said: “These are truly dismal figures which expose just how hard retail has been hammered by coronavirus.
“The Scottish and UK Governments have made unprecedented fiscal interventions to support the economy. Those vital and welcome schemes, including rates relief, worker support, and grants, are keeping many retailers afloat. Hopefully, that will ensure our industry can play its part in getting the economy back on its feet when the time is right.”
