Like-for-likes climb 4.1%
Sales in Scotland improved significantly in February, but against weak comparables from last year.

Like-for-like sales north of the border were up 4.1 per cent and total sales up 9.2 per cent, according to the Scottish Retail Consortium and Royal Bank of Scotland Retail Sales Monitor. The like-for-like improvement was the best in Scotland since August and Scottish retail continues to outperform the rest of the UK.

Food sales increased, although not as rapidly as in January. However, non-food had a good month. Clothing and footwear continued to improve, as did home and leisure, although this was driven by heavy discounting. DIY and gardening benefited from the mild weather.

However, SRC director Fiona Moriarty sounded a note of caution. 'The effects of the two recent interest rate rises have yet to influence consumer spending,' she said.

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