Scottish retailers report fall in sales

Retailers said sunny April weather lifted fashion and footwear sales last month

Retail sales in Scotland fell last month despite a strong performance by fashion and footwear stores, according to new figures.

Sales fell year-on-year by 2.9%, with non-food sales dropping 1.5% and food falling 4.6%.

The Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) said clothing sales had been boosted by the sunniest April for 70 years.

But it added that the timing of Easter this year had had a negative effect on the figures.

The holiday fell in March, as opposed to April last year.

'Lacklustre sales'

SRC director David Lonsdale said: "Over a three-month period, which irons out both positive and negative Easter distortions, we find that real term food sales actually recorded their best performance since the start of 2014.

"Over the same period non-food retail sales, once adjusted for the effect of online, mustered growth of 0.7%.

"Clothing, fashion and footwear was the stand-out category once again, with health and beauty products such as sun cream and skincare also doing well."

He added: "Whilst pay rises across the economy are forecast to continue to outstrip inflation, the fact is that shoppers remain cautious and retail sales remain lacklustre.

"This brings into sharp focus big upcoming decisions which will affect disposable incomes and take home pay, notably the setting of the new Scottish rate of income tax and the proposed replacement of council tax.

"Greater certainty is needed over how the amount of money in people's pockets and indeed consumer spending more widely will be affected by these changes."