Figures covering the five weeks to 5 April, suggest this modest growth is considered noteworthy given that the comparison month, March 2024, included the busy Easter trading period.

The overall increase was driven by a solid performance in non-food categories, where sales climbed 1.7%. This offset an anticipated 1.5% decline in food sales, largely attributed to the timing difference of Easter.

On a like-for-like basis, sales increased by 1.5%. When adjusted for inflation, total Scottish retail sales showed a real-terms increase of 0.7% year-on-year.

Ewan MacDonald-Russell, deputy head of SRC, said: “Scottish retail sales saw a small rise in March, a surprisingly strong performance considering Easter fell in the comparative month in 2024. The rise was lifted by a marked increase in non-food sales, which offset the predictable fall in food sales. 

“Mother’s Day proved to be a boon for retailers with haircare gifts and beauty products selling well. Computing and gaming sales continued to perform well, lifted by pre-orders of the new Nintendo Switch 2.

“These figures will hearten retailers who need good trading to counterbalance the turbulent economic news, and the significant public policy costs, businesses are grappling with. With Easter still to come hopefully there will be more good news next month as well.”

Linda Ellett, UK head of consumer, retail and leisure at KPMG, said: “As Spring arrived, house and garden related purchases and gifts for Mother’s Day drove non-food retail sales growth in Scotland in March. 

“Amidst downbeat consumer confidence in the UK’s economic outlook, and many households facing rising costs, retail sales growth feels an achievement.  But with non-food sales only climbing around half a percent on average, competition means there are some retailers really struggling whilst others win, especially online.  Scotland’s retailers will be pushing for higher growth rates as we move toward summer and holiday season, particularly as they are now paying higher wage costs and facing volatility and potential impact on their supply chains due to global tariffs.”