FOLLOWING the disappointment of April, retailers in Scotland saw like for like sales increase by 1.8% in May compared to the same month in 2017.
Figures in the latest Scottish retail monitor from the Scottish Retail Consortium with KPMG show the May increase to be above the three-month average of a 0.3% decrease.
Total food sales for the month increased by 4.2% against May 2017, when they had increased by 4.5%.
This growth is above both the three-month and 12-month averages of 3.7%. and 4.1%.
The Scottish trade also outpaced the UK market, which posted three-month and 12-month averages of 3.4% and 3.6%.
SRC director David Lonsdale said: “Clearly one swallow doesn’t make a summer, but May’s positive figures are a balm for hard-pressed retailers.”
Craig Cavin, head of retail in Scotland for PMG, added: “Following a challenging April, retailers can breathe a sigh of relief after May delivered a much-needed sales uplift in Scotland.
“The sun shining inevitably drove Scots outdoors, with weekend picnics and bank holiday BBQs helping to drive a 4.2% growth in food sales.”
