Bad weather blamed for retail slump

RETAIL sales have fallen for the first time in three months.

Experts claim the dismal summer weather had a greater role to play in the downturn than ‘prolonged post-Brexit blues’.

Total retail sales between July 3 and July 30 fell 1.8 per cent across Scotland compared to the same period last year.

Food sales slipped by 1.6 per cent and purchases of non-food items fell by 1.9 per cent, according to the KPMG Scottish retail sales monitor report.

Scottish Retail Consortium director David Lonsdale said: ‘Total retail sales in Scotland, once adjusted for falling shop prices, eased down last month, after two successive months of growth.

‘It is possible that prolonged post-Brexit blues in Scotland may have affected consumer confidence and been a contributing factor to the dip in retail sales.

‘However, in reality thus far, little has materially changed for most households in the wake of the referendum.’

David McCorquodale, KPMG head of retail, said: ‘It’s far too early to call the Scottish sales figures for July a barometer of the Brexit vote impact.

‘The consequences will take some time to be negotiated and even longer to be felt in the consumer’s purse. Rather the weather was, as ever, the driver across the board.

‘While the south of the UK benefited from a heatwave, Scottish weather was more unsettled and consequently, footwear and fashion sales were more subdued.’