Covering the 4 weeks from 2 - 29
August 2026
- Total sales in Scotland decreased by 0.2% compared with
August 2025, when they had increased by 1.1%. This was below the
3-month average increase of 5.3% and below the 12-month average
increase of 1.9% . Adjusted for inflation, there was a
year-on-year decrease of 1.8%.
- Total Food sales in Scotland decreased by 0.2% compared with
August 2025, when they had decreased by 0.4%. This was below the
3-month average increase of 1.3% and below the 12-month average
increase of 0.4%.
- Total Non-Food sales in Scotland decreased by 0.2% compared
with August 2025, when they had increased by 2.4%. This was below
the 3-month average increase of 8.6% and below the 12-month
average increase of 3.2%.
- Adjusted for the effect of online sales, Non-Food sales in
Scotland decreased by 0.4% compared with August 2025, when they
had increased by 3.3%. This was below the 3-month average
increase of 9.2% and below the 12-month average increase of 3.5%.
David Lonsdale, Director, Scottish Retail Consortium,
said:
The growth in retail sales seen over late Spring and Summer
petered out in August, with a small decline across both food and
more discretionary categories. These flatlining figures weren't a
huge surprise, as shopper footfall during the month had faltered.
Grocery sales dipped slightly, and have grown by a measly 0.4 per
cent on average during each of the past twelve months.
Discretionary categories have fared considerably better this past
year, but growth there fizzled out too. The bright spot was
computing and related items, which benefited from pupils and
students returning to their studies after the summer break.
Clothing performed so-so with shoppers looking to save by
switching to pre-loved items instead of new. Footwear, furniture,
and household appliances all struggled.
Hopefully, this stagnation in sales will prove short-lived. What
hasn't stagnated however has been the growth in government
initiatives impacting retail, which is a worry. The upcoming UK
and Scottish budgets will test whether policymakers are paying
attention to the travails of the retail industry, which continues
to grapple with elevated commodity and statutory cost pressures.
Both upcoming fiscal statements should be unabashed budgets for
shoppers; which help retailers keep down prices, and which aid
the rejuvenation of shopping destinations.
Linda Ellett, UK Head of Consumer, Retail & Leisure,
KPMG, said:
Summer started strongly for Scotland's retailers, but sales
cooled off in August, failing to sustain another month of growth.
Retailer focus now moves to planning for the final quarter of the
year and the lead-in to Black Friday month.
MONTHLY RETAIL SALES YEAR-ON-YEAR PERCENTAGE GROWTH
RANKING BY CATEGORY
MONTHLY RETAIL SALES YEAR-ON-YEAR PERCENTAGE GROWTH BY
CATEGORY
NON-FOOD MONTHLY RETAIL SALES YEAR-ON-YEAR PERCENTAGE
GROWTH, INCLUDING EFFECT OF ONLINE SALES
