Src

In a challenging conclusion to 2023, Scottish retailers faced a disappointing December as sales figures revealed a decline in real terms.

The Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) has appealed to the Scottish Government to shield businesses from significant tax hikes in today's forthcoming Scottish Budget.

As Christmas 2023 approaches, Scottish retailers have been faced with a challenging trading environment, marked by a slowdown in sales growth, according to the KPMG-SRC Scottish Retail Sales Monitor.

Scottish retailers have faced a daunting start to the crucial festive period, with total sales rising a modest 2.9% in October 2023 compared to the same month last year, falling below both the three-month and twelve-month average increases.

Scotland's retail sector felt the brunt of severe October storms, with shopper footfall witnessing a significant drop, according to the latest data from SRC-Sensormatic IQ.