According to the latest data released, the retail sales in Scotland have risen steadily but have remained below the UK as a whole during the previous month.

The Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) said that the retail sales have risen 0.8 per cent during the month of May. The like-for-like retail sales fell by 0.5 per cent during the month but both the indicators were healthier than in the previous year. The data also showed that the total spending in Scotland was lower than the UK as a whole, growing at 3.4 per cent in the month.

It is believed that the adverse climate, which is coldest since 1996, has also impacted retail spending by the customers in the region. The data showed that there was high demand for electrical items like tablets, large white goods, small household appliances and winter medicines. Food items recorded an increase of 1.5 per cent while non-food sales rose 0.2 per cent.

SRC Director Fiona Moriarty 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."