A surprise fall in the number of vacant shops in Scottish high streets has been welcomed by the Scottish Retail Consortium.
The figures, published today, show the town centre vacancy rate dropped to 9.8% in April, down from 12% in January. This is below the UK average of 10.2%.
The monitor, compiled by the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) and Springboard, also showed an increase in footfall.
It is thought that good weather during the Easter weekend helped deliver a boost to retailers last month.
SRC director David Lonsdale said: “The resumption of growth in shopper footfall after nine months of decline is positive and bodes well ahead of the publication of our retail sales data for April.
“The challenge will be for retailers to convert that into an enhanced performance at tills and it appears those retail destinations which benefited from rising footfall were the ones which offered consumers a ‘day-out’ experience when shopping.
“The improvement in the shop vacancy rate in our town centres is similarly encouraging and ended a run of four quarters in which the rate was in double figures.That said, one in every ten shops remains empty.
“Hopefully these more upbeat figures won’t prove short-lived.
“This is a period of significant tumult for the retail industry, with profound changes in shopping habits at a time of weak demand and rising cost pressures. These changes show few signs of abating.”
The figures for Scottish footfall were the best performing of all UK regions in April, with an increase of 0.7%. The UK average was a decline of 0.5%.
Footfall on high streets were the best performing of all UK regions, with an increase of 1.8%, while retail park numbers grew by 1%.
rmclaren@thecourier.co.uk