Retail sector faces ‘bumpy road’ ahead
RETAIL sales were close to pre-pandemic levels last month, although the cost-of-living crisis is making the recovery more challenging, according to a new report.
The SRC-KPMG Scottish Retail Sales Monitor showed that total sales in Scotland increased by 15.3% in April this year compared with April
2021, when they had grown by 107.9%.
However, on a three-year basis they were 0.5% down on the same month in 2019, before the pandemic.
The monitor has provided comparisons with April 2019 as in April last year non-essential retail stores were closed for most of the month, pushing many consumers to buy goods online.
David Lonsdale, Scottish Retail
Consortium (SRC) director, said: “The value of Scottish retail sales was marginally down in April compared to the same period prior to the pandemic. “Whilst the figures lost a little of their lustre from the more buoyant March, retail sales were still at their second-highest level for two years and remained close to pre-pandemic levels.”
He added: “Household finances are under strain as inflation, tax rises and other bills take a bite out of shoppers’ purses and wallets.” Mr Lonsdale said that several non-food categories such as clothing and accessories, footwear and beauty products were lifted by the return to office working, more social occasions such as weddings, and holidaying. However, sales of bigger ticket items including electricals, household appliances and furniture were “lacklustre”, as recent spikes in inflation and taxes left pay-packets lighter.