Scottish retailers record worst December on record

RETAILERS suffered the worst December on record last year, as the value of high street sales rose by the lowest amount in more than 12 years.

New figures from the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) showed that total sales in December rose by 1.6 per cent compared to the same month the previous year, when they had increased 3.4 per cent.

On a like-for-like basis – counting stores that have been open for more than one year – sales edged upwards by just 0.4 per cent.

Although the rise was the best monthly performance since July, it was still a major blow for retailers, who regard the festive trading season as the major financial event of the year.

“December wasn’t the saviour of a consistently harsh year for Scottish retailers,” said Ian Shearer, director of the SRC. “The Christmas boost was well below both what Scottish retailers hoped for.”

David McCorquodale, head of retail in Scotland for KPMG said: “Christmas this year came at a real cost to retailers.”