Scottish retail sales flat in Q3

At the same time, the value of retail sales in Scotland increased by 0.4 per cent, meaning that consumers spent more than they did last quarter to purchase the same amount of retail goods due to inflation.

Over the year since 2016 Quarter 3, the volume of retail sales in Scotland has increased by 0.6 per cent. During the same period, the value of sales increased by 3.3 per cent and average retail store prices in Scotland (the implied deflator) increased by 2.6 per cent annually.

The equivalent figures for retail sales volumes in Great Britain as a whole, produced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), are growth of 0.6 per cent in the latest quarter, and 1.5 per cent over the year since 2016 Quarter 3.

The Retail Sales Index for Scotland is a measure of the sales by retailers in Scotland. It is an early indicator of how the economy performed in the latest quarter and of the strength of consumer spending. The figures published today cover the period from July to September 2017.

Commenting on the latest figures, Ewan MacDonald-Russell, head of policy at the Scottish Retail Consortium, said: “Retailers will be disappointed to see anaemic sales value growth as they prepare for the crucial run up to Christmas.

“When combined with flat sales volumes, the evidence shows Scottish retail sales appear to be stuck in the doldrums

“With overall inflation rising, and the possibility of rising interest rates and potential tax rises, consumer confidence is understandably fragile, and these figures will at least partly reflect that.

“Considering the crucial importance of consumer spending to Scotland’s economic growth, the Scottish government should be paying close attention to their own statistics and carefully considering how they can encourage customers to continue shopping.”