SCOTTISH retail sales volumes rose by 1.2 per cent quarter-on-quarter in the opening three months of this year, trailing a 1.6% increase in Great Britain as a whole, official figures show.

The seasonally adjusted figures, published yesterday by the Scottish Government, show the value of retail sales north of the Border grew by 1.1% in the first quarter. Retail sales value in Great Britain as a whole rose by 1.6%. The Scottish Government noted that it was the first time in 11 quarters that the volume of Scottish retail sales had increased more rapidly than the value.

David Lonsdale, director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said: “These welcome figures highlight positive growth in the value of retail sales over the first quarter.”