Scotland’s shops were left trailing in the wake of the wider UK high street performance last month.
New figures from the regular SRC/KPMG retail sales monitor show that total sales in all categories north of the border edged ahead 0.8% in the period, but the UK as a whole saw a rise of 3.4% last month.
On a like-for-like basis, which strips out the effect of new store openings, sales in Scotland fell by 0.5% compared with the same period a year ago.
Although the figures showed Scotland’s high streets significantly lagging behind UK-wide performance, the 0.8% return was still above the 0.3% growth average posted over the course of the last 12 months.
“May’s sales figures reflect the relationship between retailers and the Scottish consumer,” KPMG’s head of retail David McCorquodale said.
“Yes spending is up, but only just, and it remains an uphill struggle for retailers, who are fighting over every pound that enters the tills.
“This battle for their share of consumer wallets will remain fierce, and retailers must keep a watchful eye on their own margins as they try every form of promotional activity to secure sales.
“Perhaps a few weeks of summer weather will make a difference, but I believe the majority of retailers face a hard-fought campaign to persuade consumers to part with their hard-earned cash,” he added.
The Scottish Retail Consortium director Fiona Moriarty said slow but steady progress was being made by the sector.
She said: “This is a fairly solid showing which chimes with rising levels of consumer confidence in Scotland.
“Customers remain price-conscious, but the signs are that they entered May a little more willing to spend, especially on value ranges.
“Retailers read the shifting public mood well and offered well-timed and targeted promotions to draw in shoppers on the look-out for a good deal.
“This was one of the key factors behind non-food excluding fashion posting its strongest result in 20 months excluding Christmas.
“While May ushered in some welcome weather more suited to spring after the unseasonably chilly preceding months, conditions were still volatile.
“This led to a mixed month for the fashion category: the first signs of sunshine fuelled demand for spring and summer ranges, but changes in temperature made for stop-start progress.
“These are slow but steady figures which will prompt mixed feelings from Scottish retailers.
“While the gap has widened again with the UK, the result is up on the 12-month average of 0.3%.
“Retailers will be hoping that this tentative boost gathers momentum as we head into the summer,” she added.