SCOTTISH retail sales volumes grew by 0.4 per cent during the third quarter, official figures show, but this rise was well adrift of a 1.2% increase in Great Britain as a whole.

The Scottish Government’s seasonally adjusted figures show that, comparing the third quarter with the same period of last year, retail sales volumes north of the Border were up by 1.3%.

Figures published by the Office for National Statistics show retail sales volumes in Great Britain as a whole in the three months to September were up by 3.4% on the same period of last year.

Small and medium-sized retailers north of the Border fared better than their larger counterparts with a 2.1% quarter-on-quarter rise in sales volumes in the three months to September. Large retailers in Scotland saw their sales volumes fall by 0.3%.

The value of Scottish retail sales increased by 0.6% during the third quarter.

In value terms, retail sales north of the Border in the three months to September were up 2.7% on the same period of last year.

David Lonsdale, director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said: “The further increase in the value of retail sales over the past quarter is heartening and mirrors the findings of our own Scottish monthly survey, which showed figures buoyed by food and grocery purchases in particular.”

Noting the state of household finances was a “crucial” factor for retailers’ prospects, he added: “This brings into sharp focus big upcoming decisions which could affect disposable incomes and take-home pay, notably the Scottish Budget and the setting of income tax, as well as subsequent decisions over council tax levels.”