THE value of Scottish retail sales in January was down by 2.3 per cent on the same month of last year, industry figures have revealed, signalling continuing pressure on hard-pressed households.

Sector expert David McCorquodale declared on the basis of the findings of the survey, published today by the Scottish Retail Consortium, that 2015 had got off to a "difficult start" for Scottish retailers.

Edinburgh-based Mr McCorquodale, head of accountancy firm and SRC survey sponsor KPMG's UK retail sector practice, said: "Whilst the decline may be partly explained by more inclement weather this year and January being a strong month for sales last year, it is clear that the considerable saving felt by consumers in petrol and fuel bills is not finding its way to the high street's tills."

The latest monthly retail sales figures for Scotland are, once again, significantly weaker than those for the UK as a whole. The SRC has 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 the weaker retail sales performance in Scotland.

The British Retail Consortium reported last week that the value of retail sales in the UK as a whole in January was up 1.6 per cent on the same month of 2014.

According to the SRC, the value of non-food sales in Scotland in January was down by three per cent on the same month of 2014. This is the sharpest year-on-year fall in sales in this category since last September.

The survey shows sales of entertainment electrical goods slowed. They had been boosted in late November by the Black Friday discounting frenzy imported from the US, which featured offers on the likes of games consoles and tablet computers.

And January was a tough month for footwear retailers, the SRC noted.

The value of food sales in Scotland in January was down by 1.4 per cent on a year earlier. However, the SRC noted this was the least-sharp year-on-year drop in food sales since June 2014.

SRC director David Lonsdale highlighted the fact that the value of Scottish retail sales in January 2014 had been up 4.3 per cent on the same month of 2013. This meant trading last month was measured against a tough prior-year comparative.

Mr Lonsdale said: "This needs to be seen in the context of a bumper performance in the corresponding period last year."

Taking into account the impact of shop-price deflation, calculated by the BRC and market researcher Nielsen at 1.3 per cent in January, the SRC noted the volume, rather than value, of retail sales in Scotland was down by one per cent year-on-year last month.