Retailers thank good weather for May increase in sales

Good weather in May helped Scottish retailers shift garden furniture, barbecues and summer clothing, leading to an upsurge in sales.

Total sales in Scotland increased by 2.6% compared with May 2017, when they fell by 0.2%, figures from the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) show.

Non-food sales increased 1.4% last month, compared with a 3.8% drop in May 2017, marking the best performance by the sector since January 2014.

With many barbecues sold, food sales increased 4.2% on last year, above the yearly average of 4.1%.

SRC said the monthly results were “a balm for hard-pressed retailers''.

Craig Cavin, head of retail in Scotland for KPMG, said: “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. Similarly, non-food also benefited from the sunshine, with more footfall at the shops resulting in a noticeable increase in summer range sales.

“Nevertheless, non-food sales continue to lag slightly behind the three-month UK equivalent, and Scotland is by no means insulated from the wider challenges facing the retail industry more broadly.''

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.

“The figures show consumers shifting their attention to spending time outdoors which, when combined with a release of pent-up demand, saw a broadly based pick-up in retail sales over the month.

“As a result total retail sales, adjusted for falling shop prices, recorded their best monthly performance in almost four-and-a-half years.

“Sales of garden furniture, BBQs, and summer-related clothing, footwear and food performed well, as did gaming and TVs driven by demand for new titles and upcoming sporting events.

“In contrast household appliances and home accessories fared less well.

“It is heartening that a broader range of categories crucial to the overall health of the retail industry pointed in a positive direction last month, however this has to be tempered in light of the continuing pressures on household disposable incomes.'