DESPITE being down 1.4% on the same month a year earlier, food sales in Scotland during January 2015 recorded their best performance since June 2014.
The Scottish Retail Consortium and KPMG Scottish Retail Monitor revealed total Scottish sales for the month decreased by 2.3% compared with January 2014 when they had recorded growth of 4.3%.
Overall like-for-like sales, which do not include figures from shops that closed or opened during the period, were down by 3.1%. Food fared slightly better, dropping 2.4%.
David Lonsdale, director of the SRC, said: “The total value of Scottish retail sales slipped back last month, however this needs to be seen in the context of a bumper performance in the corresponding period last year.
“While sales of food edged down, it was nonetheless the best performing category – for the first time in four months – and recorded its best performance since last June.
“Non-food related sales eased back after a stellar performance in the same period in 2014, making for a pretty flat past quarter,” he added.
Head of retail at KPMG David McCorquodale added: “While sales are still declining there is evidence that the rate of decline has reversed. Grocers will take heart that the worst may be in the past.”
