Scotland records sales rise

Scotland recorded a like-for-like sales increase of 2.0 per cent last month.

Figures increased 3.5 per cent in January, while total sales rose 4.9 per cent, according to the British Retail Consortium.

The report follows news that sales in London had fared better than in the rest of the nation.

Scotland’s like-for-like increase was the most impressive since June, driven largely by heavy discounting and sales. Non-food sales growth showed improvement, though growth was down on last year.