Sunny weather and a late Easter saw total sales in Scotland take flight in April, increasing by 4.5% versus April 2024, when they had decreased by 4%, according to the Scottish Retail Consortium, in collaboration with KPMG.
This was above the 3-month average increase of 1.4% and above the 12-month average decrease of 0.2%. Adjusted for inflation, there was a year-on-year increase of 4.6%.
Though much of the increase was driven by non-food sales, total food sales in Scotland still increased by 2.2%, compared with April 2024, when they had decreased by 3.0%. This was above the 3-month average increase of 0.3% and above the 12-month average increase of 0.1%.
Total UK sales also increased in April, up 7% YOY, with Food up 8.2% and Non-Food growing 6.1%, based on figures from the British Retail Consortium and KPMG. They claimed that the impact of Easter falling in April this year, versus March last year, flattered the April results.
Nevertheless, both March and April experienced robust YOY sales. When sales values for March and April are taken together, the YOY total sales were up 4.3%.
While food sales performed well as people brought together their family and friends for Easter celebrations, BRC Chief Executive, Helen Dickinson OBE, warned that “clouds loom on the horizon”.
“Even a strong April performance will do little to make up for the extra £7bn facing the industry this year,” she said, highlighting that both Employer National Insurance Contributions and the National Living Wage rose last month.
IGD CEO, Sarah Bradbury, added that the “persistent challenge” of food price inflation continued to weight heavily on both businesses and
households. “As they grapple with rising costs, we foresee limited further gains in shopper confidence,” she said.
