Scottish retailers suffer tough start to the new year
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Scottish retailers have had a “difficult start” to 2015, according to figures published by the Scottish Retail Consortium and KPMG Scottish Retail Sales Monitor, which showed that total sales in January fell by 2.3 percent, compared with January 2014.
Total retail like-for-likes were down 3.1 percent, while non-food sales fell 3 percent, with the decreased being linked to the bad weather.
David McCorquodale, head of retail at KPMG, said: "2015 got off to a difficult start for Scottish retailers as sales shrank by more than two per cent against last year.
“Whilst the decline may be partly explained by more inclement weather this year and January being a strong month for sales last year, it is clear that the considerable saving felt by consumers in petrol and fuel bills is not finding its way to the High Street's tills.”
David Lonsdale, director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, added: "The total value of Scottish retail sales slipped back last month, however this needs to be seen in the context of a bumper performance in the corresponding period last year.
"Non-food related sales eased back after a stellar performance in the same period in 2014, making for a pretty flat past quarter in the category once inflation is taken into account.”