Scottish retail sales suffer in October as mild weather hits fashion

Total retail sales in the country fell 2.4%, compared to a 0.9% decline in the rest of the UK, the Scottish Retail Consortium/KPMG Scottish Retails Sales Monitor found.

Fashion sales appear to have been hit by the mild autumn weather, while shoppers for electricals good are waiting for Black Friday deals. 

KPMG’s head of retail David McCorquodale said October’s figures were “a sobering reminder of the frailty of the economic recovery”, the BBC reported.

He added: “There is no doubt the declines in Scottish retail sales in October, when measured against a relatively weak month last year, are disappointing for retailers when set against mainly dry weather and temperatures only marginally warmer than average.”

Mr McCorquodale said last month’s weather “wasn’t cold enough” for sales of coats or boots to do well. He suggested shoppers are waiting for heavy promotions, while retailers were left pushing themed products for Halloween.

Total food sales in Scotland were down by 3.2% in the period.