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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Scottish retail sales dip after period of growth | Scottish retail sales dip after period of growth |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Shop sales dipped in the final quarter of 2012 but grew over the year as a whole, according to figures released by the Scottish government. | Shop sales dipped in the final quarter of 2012 but grew over the year as a whole, according to figures released by the Scottish government. |
| The Retail Sales Index indicated that volumes fell by 0.5% in the last three months of the year, compared with a drop of 0.4% in Great Britain. | The Retail Sales Index indicated that volumes fell by 0.5% in the last three months of the year, compared with a drop of 0.4% in Great Britain. |
| Without adjusting for inflation, Scottish sales showed zero growth in value for the second quarter in a row. | Without adjusting for inflation, Scottish sales showed zero growth in value for the second quarter in a row. |
| Over the year, volumes grew by 0.7% while the value of sales was up 1.1%. | Over the year, volumes grew by 0.7% while the value of sales was up 1.1%. |
| Finance Secretary John Swinney said: "The retail sector can be assured that this government is doing all we can to maintain Scotland's position as the most supportive business environment in the UK. | Finance Secretary John Swinney said: "The retail sector can be assured that this government is doing all we can to maintain Scotland's position as the most supportive business environment in the UK. |
| "The Small Business Bonus Scheme (SBBS) and other reliefs combined give Scottish business a real competitive edge - they are worth more than £500m annually and benefit two out of every five commercial premises in Scotland. | "The Small Business Bonus Scheme (SBBS) and other reliefs combined give Scottish business a real competitive edge - they are worth more than £500m annually and benefit two out of every five commercial premises in Scotland. |
| "Added to this, our support for the social wage with a council tax freeze is helping to put money in people's pockets and is supporting hard pressed households," he added. | "Added to this, our support for the social wage with a council tax freeze is helping to put money in people's pockets and is supporting hard pressed households," he added. |
| Concern 'remains' | |
| Reacting to the figures, the Scottish Conservatives said concern remained over the health of Scotland's retail industry. | |
| Finance spokesman Gavin Brown said: "The Scottish government failed to walk the talk when it comes to the economy and creating jobs. | |
| "It has imposed a Scotland-only retail levy, the empty properties tax and has increased the tax burden on businesses substantially." | |
| Figures released last month by the Scottish Retail Consortium showed sales matching UK figures for the first time in nearly two years. | Figures released last month by the Scottish Retail Consortium showed sales matching UK figures for the first time in nearly two years. |
| A 1.5% increase on the previous December was driven by non-food sales, which recorded their best performance since March 2011. | A 1.5% increase on the previous December was driven by non-food sales, which recorded their best performance since March 2011. |
| At the time, SRC described the figures as a "relatively good result" at the end of a "relentlessly tough year". | At the time, SRC described the figures as a "relatively good result" at the end of a "relentlessly tough year". |
| 'Restrained spending' | |
| Euan Murray, from Barclays Corporate Banking, said higher sales over the Christmas period failed to counter the restrained consumer spending seen through most of the last quarter of 2012. | Euan Murray, from Barclays Corporate Banking, said higher sales over the Christmas period failed to counter the restrained consumer spending seen through most of the last quarter of 2012. |
| He added: "Early discounting put pressure on retailers to sell more and those who failed to appropriately marry online with bricks and mortar felt the impact. | He added: "Early discounting put pressure on retailers to sell more and those who failed to appropriately marry online with bricks and mortar felt the impact. |
| "Despite the challenging start to 2013, with talk of a triple dip recession and a number of high street failures, the outlook for retailers is not all doom and gloom. | "Despite the challenging start to 2013, with talk of a triple dip recession and a number of high street failures, the outlook for retailers is not all doom and gloom. |
| "There are strong opportunities in the click and collect space, and importantly consumer confidence appears to be on the rise." | "There are strong opportunities in the click and collect space, and importantly consumer confidence appears to be on the rise." |