Scottish high street enjoys strongest sales in three years amid World Cup fever

The latest retail sales monitor from the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) and KPMG shows that total sales in Scotland rose by 7.5 per cent in June, compared with the same month last year. Adjusted for the effects of inflation, there was a year-on-year gain of 6.3 per cent.

SRC director David Lonsdale said: “Scottish retail sales sparkled in June bolstered by the arrival of the better weather, the World Cup, and Scots readying themselves for the summer holidays. It was the best monthly performance in three years - positive news after a lengthy period of decidedly tepid sales growth.”

Total food sales north of the Border increased by 1.8 per cent compared with June 2025 - outperforming the three-month average trend. Total non-food sales jumped by 12.3 per cent, year on year.

Lonsdale added: “These are unalloyed positive results and provided a final flourish to the first half of the year. Whether the good news can be sustained remains unclear given continuing pressures on household finances.

“With a new Prime Minister about to take office retailers will be hoping he can make good on his pledges on living standards and of a high street renaissance, whilst showing sufficient dexterity towards keeping a tight lid on the tax and regulatory costs under his control.”

Linda Ellett, UK head of consumer, retail and leisure at KPMG, which helps compile the sales monitor, said: “Retail sales rose in Scotland during June, with the men’s football World Cup bringing a boost for home electrical sales and food and drink. The warmer weather benefitted clothing sales - which retailers will be looking to build on as summer holiday season gets set to fully begin.”

Adjusted for the effect of online sales, non-food sales in Scotland increased by 14 per cent last month compared with June 2025, when they had increased by 2.1 per cent. This was above the three-month average increase of 9.5 per cent and above the 12-month average rise of 2.9 per cent.