Scottish retail sales grow 0.8 per cent

The statistics, which represent a growth of 2.4 per cent annually, were announced by Scotland’s Chief Statistician in the latest Retail Sales Index for Scotland release and also show the value of retail sales, without adjusting for inflation, increased by 0.6 per cent in the second quarter, marking no change when compared to the same period last year.

David Lonsdale, Director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said: “The resumption of growth in retail sales in the second quarter of this year is heartening. However, with the value of retail sales over the past year as a whole decidedly flat this suggests a continuing fragility to consumer confidence in Scotland, despite lower prices in shops prices and average pay rises outstripping inflation.

“The prospects for retailers are ultimately determined by the state of the economy and their own ability to adapt and seize on the opportunities that arise. However, these figures do bring into sharp focus big upcoming decisions which could affect disposable incomes and take home pay, notably the setting of the new Scottish Rate of Income Tax in next month’s Scottish Budget and the unveiling this autumn of the promised replacement of council tax. These decisions must support consumer spending and economic growth with greater certainty over how the amount of money in people’s pockets and indeed consumer spending more widely will be affected by these changes.”