YEAR-on-year growth in Scottish retail sales value accelerated from 1.8% in September to 2.1% in October, but remained well adrift of the pace enjoyed in the summer, an industry survey shows.

The survey, published today by the Scottish Retail Consortium, reveals the clothing and footwear categories were hindered last month by unusually mild weather for this time of year.

The SRC, in its latest monthly Scottish Retail Sales Monitor, highlights its finding that the effect on sales of clothing was particularly evident "on the west coast".

It notes unusually high temperatures in the first week of October, adding that sales fared better in the womenswear segment when "more seasonal conditions set in" later in the month.

Although faster than in September, year-on-year growth in the value of Scottish retail sales in October was well adrift of respective rates of 4% and 3.5% recorded in July and August.

SRC director Fiona Moriarty said: "These figures show that there's all to play for as Christmas approaches. It's reassuring to see a partial pick-up in growth after a disappointing slowdown in the previous month, but it's clear that many households are still feeling the squeeze and keen to keep some money aside for seasonal spending closer to December."

David McCorquodale, the Edinburgh-based head of accountancy firm and SRC survey sponsor KPMG's UK retail sector practice, said: "October was a cautious month on the Scottish high streets. Confidence levels have perhaps dipped a little from the warm summer months."

However, looking ahead to the key Christmas trading period, Mr McCorquodale declared he was "cautiously optimistic" and believed that retailers might not have to discount as deeply this festive season as in recent years.

Year-on-year growth in retail sales value in Scotland in October was adrift of the corresponding rate of 2.6% for the UK as a whole, reported by the British Retail Consortium in its latest survey last week.

The value of non-food sales in Scotland in October was up only 1.3% on the same month of last year, according to the SRC.

However, in contrast to the weaker showing by clothing and footwear retailers, the furniture and flooring category did well. Video games were also in demand, and proved the star performer in a wider electricals category which remained strong in October.

The health and beauty category suffered from weaker demand for cold and flu medicines, but benefited from anti-smoking campaigns and associated treatments, the SRC found.

The value of food sales in Scotland in October was up 3% on the same month of last year. Comparing the three months to October with the same period of last year, the value of food sales was up by 3% in Scotland but was only 2% higher in the UK as a whole.

Mr McCorquodale believes this shows consumers in Scotland are "reacting better" to campaigns run by the grocers than those in England and Wales.

October is the third consecutive month in which year-on-year growth in the value of overall retail sales has been weaker in Scotland than in the UK as a whole.

Scotland has in recent times generally trailed the UK as a whole in terms of year-on-year sales growth, on the basis of the SRC survey, but bucked this pattern briefly by outperforming in July. The UK as a whole, according to the BRC, recorded 3.9% year-on-year growth in retail sales value in July.

Ms Moriarty said of the latest Scottish sales figures: "Food put in a decent performance in October, with indications that customers responded well to more wintry fare as the nights started to draw in. In contrast, non-food faltered, mainly due to subdued demand for warmer clothing and footwear until more autumnal conditions set in later in the month.

"Overall this is an acceptable result which tallies with the relatively stable consumer confidence levels of the last few months.

"Retailers will be hoping that this very tentative boost gains some momentum as many of us start thinking about making some headway on our Christmas lists."

Mr McCorquodale said: "Fashion sales struggled in the warmer weather as shoppers are tending to buy winter woollies when they're needed rather than when they become available."

He added: "With little more than six weeks until Christmas, retailers' festive campaigns are now in full swing. They need the weather to cool and confidence to burgeon to encourage shoppers to spend and give Christmas 2013 that much needed feel-good factor.

"I remain cautiously optimistic and feel the level of discounting may be less than in previous seasons - time will tell if the retailer will hold firm for margin or give way with pre-Christmas bargains."