SCOTTISH high streets have seen an average increase in footfall, bucking the trend of decline seen across the rest of the UK.
Footfall in May rose by 0.4% in Scotland, up from a reduction of 5.2% recorded in April.
The rise has been attributed to warmer weather, with Scots heading to retail parks and the high street despite continued economic worries.
Glasgow saw slightly reduced footfall, but the trade association said it still outperformed much of the rest of the UK.
“Scottish retail footfall just about stayed positive as the warm weather outweighed consumer concerns about the economy,” Ewan MacDonald-Russell, deputy head of the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC), said.
“Footfall overall was up by 0.4%, the best figures in the UK, as Scots enjoyed the eventual arrival of the sunshine.”
Despite the modest growth, MacDonald-Russell warned that challenges lie ahead due to uncertainty in the global market, such as from tariff threats from the US and energy price fluctuations stemming from the war in Iran.
“Whilst the figures look might look sunny there remain significant clouds on the horizon,” he said.
“Consumer confidence remains depressed as a result of the costs accruing from the international instability.
“The new Scottish Government will need to tread carefully with their policy interventions.”
In Northern Ireland, England and Wales, the retail sector experienced declines of 1%, 3% and 5% respectively.
According to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and data firm Sensormatic, retail figures across the UK initially increased as temperatures began to rise, but a heat wave that hit towards the end of May resulted in consumers in some parts of the UK avoiding crowded shopping centres and retail parks.
BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said: “While the warmer weather initially encouraged more people to the shops, the record-breaking temperatures at the end of the month resulted in a sharp decline in footfall, particularly at shopping centres and retail parks.
“Only high streets bucked the trend, as those who were out and about took the opportunity to pop into their local stores.”
She added: “Households remain anxious about the long-term impact of the Iran conflict and inflation and expect prices to rise over the year.
“By tackling the inflationary pressures on the horizon, Government can help rebuild consumer confidence, ultimately supporting footfall.”
Andy Sumpter, from Sensormatic, said: “Consumer confidence may be edging up slightly but it remains fragile, with geopolitical uncertainty continuing to weigh on discretionary spend.”
