Spending in Scotland finally back to black

Non-essential spending in Scotland has grown for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic thanks in part to the Eat Out to Help Out scheme, according to a report.

The latest Bank of Scotland Spending Power Report found spending was up 2 percent year on year north of the Border – the first period of growth since February.

In total spending was up 6 per cent on August last year in a stark improvement from July when spending was down 15 per cent on the year before.

This comes despite Eat Out to Help Out only being available three days a week during August, although many restaurants have since expanded the UK Government scheme into September without any additional support.

At the peak of the Covid -19 pandemic in April, spending in restaurants was down by 63 per cent year on year.

Clothing retailers took 4 per cent more in spending last month compared with a year ago, with the figure for jewellers 6 per cent higher.

However, recreational spending, including cinema and theatre trips, fell 30 per cent year on year.