FOOD retail led the way over the festive period yet again in Scotland, according to the latest Scottish Retail Consortium retail sales monitor, produced by KPMG.
Figures for the five weeks to 1 January revealed total food sales increased 1.2% against December 2020, when they had increased by 3.3%. December’s food sales growth was above the three-month average of -0.6% and the 12-month average growth of 0.7%.
Total Non-Food sales increased by 27.7% in the same period, but set against a horrific December 2020 trading performance, when sales had declined by 33.4%.
David Lonsdale, director of the SRC, commented: “Grocery was a bright spot, as were purchases of Chirstmas decorations, as get-togethers of family and friends over the festive period returned and as Scots ate out less following fresh public health instructions.”
He added: “The recovery of sorts in Scottish retail sales has been stymied for several months now and remains more sluggish and persistently weaker than across the UK as a whole.”
