MATCHING trends across the UK, the extended good weather of early summer saw total sales in Scotland across June increase by 2.7% year on year.
Data from the latest Scottish retail sales monitor from KPMG and the Scottish Retail Consortium show that this increase was the highest since January 2014, and above the twelve-month average of 0.5%.
Food sales performed particularly well, increasing by 4.8% in June.
Picnic and barbecue food were popular thanks to the weather, and the unusual opportunity for consumers to consistently eat outdoors.
Ewan MacDonald-Russell, head of policy & external affairs, Scottish Retail Consortium said:
“Overall retailers will have welcomed some relief this month. However, whilst it’s fun to get excited by the sunshine, the reality is things are still very challenging for the retail industry.
“The big question is whether shoppers will continue to act so positively once the weather returns to normal.
“In the autumn retailers will have a clearer sense of whether this was a shoppers’ summer fling or a more serious commitment from consumers.”
