The bank has found that some Scottish retailers are are even displaying goods as early as September, to help customers spread the cost of Christmas amidst ongoing cost of living crunch.

According to the Barclays Business Barometer, the retail sector is showing strong resilience as retailers expect a rebound from last year’s drop in sales, which were impacted by rail strikes and decades-high inflation.

The bank revealed that Scottish retailers anticipate adding thousands of temporary jobs, expanding their workforce by nearly a fifth (16 per cent) over the Christmas period to meet demand - with nearly two thirds (60 per cent) expecting to hire over-50s to help fill these roles.

Furthermore, half of Scottish retailers (50 per cent) expect greater footfall in stores over the Christmas period this year, as consumers return to the high street.

Karen Johnson, head of retail and wholesale, Barclays Corporate Banking, said: “After a not-so-festive 2022 season, and amidst widespread concern over the health of the economy, retailers have moved decisively to build resilience. Focusing on Christmas goods earlier, investing in infrastructure and expanding temporary hiring are all positive indicators that the sector is well-placed for what is a critical Christmas.

“Though consumer demand has been weak in recent months as warm weather has dampened the Christmas spirit, there are early signs that customers remain committed to Christmas and this year will see strong sales for retailers, benefiting the industry and giving the UK economy a potential boost as the year draws to a close.”