SRC-KPMG Scottish Retail Sales Monitor
Snow means retailers’ hopes hang on Christmas catch-up
Like-for-like sales in November were unchanged from those in November 2009, when they had fallen 0.6%. Sales have now shown an increase in only two months of 2010. Total sales were 3.4% up on a year ago, when they had risen 2.8%.
Food sales growth picked up, but the gain was against a weak November 2009 and partly reflected food inflation. Clothing and footwear struggled. Homewares and furniture were still down on a year ago though less than in October. Big-ticket and discretionary items were hardest hit by the weakness of consumer confidence.
Overall like-for-like sales improved while growth in the UK was little changed. But Scottish sales were still worse than in the UK, where sales were 0.7% up on a year ago. Consumer confidence in Scotland remained weaker than in the UK. More concern about public sector job cuts in Scotland has made shoppers more cautious about spending.
