SCOTTISH retail sales value has shown a year-on-year fall for a 12th consecutive month, with high street trading remaining weaker north of the Border than elsewhere in the UK.
The latest monthly monitor published today by the Scottish Retail Consortium shows that the value of sales in Scotland between April 5 and May 2 was down by 2.9 per cent on the same period of last year. This is defined as the April trading period.
This year-on-year fall in sales value in the latest month reflected in part the fact that Good Friday and the following day fell into the previous five-week trading period this year because Easter was earlier. These days, which are busy for retailers, had fallen into the April trading period last year.
However, the sales figures for the UK as a whole were affected by the same timing issue. The value of UK retail sales between April 5 and May 2 was down only 1.3 per cent on the same period of last year, according to figures published last week by the British Retail Consortium (BRC).
And the value of Scottish retail sales in the March trading period, even though it included Good Friday and the following day this year, was down by 0.1 per cent on a year earlier, according to figures published last month by the SRC.
SRC director David Lonsdale has previously cited stronger economic growth and a sharper rise in house prices in other parts of the UK, notably London and south-east England, as possible reasons for weaker retail sales performance in Scotland.
The value of food sales in Scotland in the latest April trading period was down by 4.6 per cent on a year earlier. Non-food sales value in Scotland was down by 1.5 per cent year-on-year.
However, the SRC highlights the strength of clothing sales in Scotland last month.
It says: "Clothing sales had a stand-out performance, as the sunniest April in over 70 years saw Scottish shoppers make their clothing purchases with the impending summer in mind.
"As a result, demand was strong for cooler clothing like blouses and denims, while the fluctuant nature of Scottish weather in April meant lightweight waterproofs also sold well. Many retailers remarked that their women's segment outperformed men's and children's."
The SRC noted that, taking into account shop-price deflation measured by the BRC and market researcher Nielsen, the volume as opposed to value of Scottish retail sales in the April trading period was down by one per cent on a year earlier.
The value of food sales in Scotland in the three months to April was down by two per cent on the same period of last year.
However, the SRC notes that this represents a fall of 1.2 per cent when food-price deflation is taken into account and declares that this is the least-sharp year-on-year fall for a three-month period since January 2014.
During the three months to April, the value of non-food sales in Scotland was down by 0.9 per cent on a year earlier.
Mr Lonsdale said: "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."
Edinburgh-based David McCorquodale, head of accountancy firm and SRC survey sponsor KPMG's UK retail sector practice, said: "In the grocery segment, where total sales continue to shrink even in real terms, 'success' is still measured by decline being less than it was and the grocery retailers will be heartened that the three-month average food sales fell in real terms by only 1.2 per cent, which is the best result since January 2014."
However, he added: "With UK total food sales in positive territory throughout the whole of 2015, grocers will be looking to achieve real growth again in Scotland before too long."
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