Covering the four weeks 27 October – 23 November
2024
- Total sales in Scotland decreased by 3.3% compared with
November 2023, when they had grown 2.6%. This was below the
3-month average decrease of 0.1% and below the 12-month average
growth of 0.5%. Adjusted for inflation, there was a year-on-year
decrease of 2.3%.
- Scottish sales decreased by 2.5% on a like-for-like basis
compared with November 2023, when they had increased by 3.8%.
This is above the 3-month average decrease of 0.9% and below the
12-month average decline of 0.4%.
- Total Food sales increased by 0.6% versus November 2023, when
they had increased by 5.8%. November was below the 3-month
average increase of 1.2% and below the 12-month average growth of
1.6%. The 3-month average was below the UK level of 2.4%.
- Total Non-Food sales decreased by 5.8% in November compared
with November 2023, when they had increased by 0.9%. This was
below the 3-month average decrease of 2.0% and 12-month decrease
of 1.6%.
- Adjusted for the estimated effect of Online sales, Total
Non-Food sales decreased by 10.8%% in November versus November
2023, when they had decreased by 0.2%. This was below the 3-month
average decline of 3.0% and 12-month average decline of 2.5%.
Ewan MacDonald-Russell, Deputy Head | Scottish Retail Consortium
"Scottish retail sales slumped by 2.3 percent in real terms in
November as the mid-month of the golden trading quarter
disappointed. With retailers already reeling from the enormous
bills coming out of the UK Budget and the bitter arctic weather,
the poor trading performance will have alarm bells ringing for
many. Omni and digital retailers can at least cling to the hope
that Black Friday itself, which falls in December's reporting
period, may make up a little ground.
"Health and beauty products continue to perform well for
retailers, with the now staple beauty advent calendars being
popular. Sales of Christmas trees and decorations and
energy-efficient products did well. However, broader technology
and fashion both underperformed, a combination of consumers
holding back on festive spending and the significant discounting
in the run-up to Black Friday.
"Scotland's retailers are already facing a £190 million cost next
year from the changes to employer National Insurance. They will
be nervously looking towards Wednesday's Scottish Budget with
very significant trepidation. Bluntly, consumers are already
likely to see prices rise in the new year due to rising
government-mandated cost pressures whilst jobs and shops are at
risk. If the Scottish Government choose to increase costs further
through new levies or large business rates increases, it's
Scotland's shoppers who are likely to face the price in 2025."
Linda Ellett, UK Head of Consumer, Retail and
Leisure | KPMG
“Along with the cold snap at the end of the month, retail sales
also went into minus numbers for November.
“An upturn in health product buying also signalled that the
winter months had arrived, with food and drink the only other
category to see sales growth.
“While the majority of November's data tells a disappointing tale
for the retail sector, this reporting didn't include Black Friday
week, so the hope for Scotland's retailers is that consumers were
being savvy shoppers and that the promotional push in the last
days of the month saw held-back consumer spend materialise and
mitigate what is otherwise a disappointing month. If not,
then we may see some retailers launching Christmas sales early.”
