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SRC - Scottish retail's worst February since 1999
Like-for-like sales in February were 1.1% lower than in February 2009, when they had fallen 0.9%. Total sales in February were 1.9% up on a year ago.
It was the worst February, for both like-for-like and total sales, since the survey began in 1999. The coldest February since 1986, with snow for much of the month, meant both food and non-food sales performances were weaker than in January.
Food sales slowed further after shoppers had stocked up during January's snow. Lower food inflation and consumer caution also depressed sales. Clothing and footwear slowed, as people had already bought winter wear in January's snow. Homewares fell further as people concentrated on essentials in the adverse weather.
Like-for-like sales fell further as snow persisted, in contrast to the UK where the thaw allowed sales to recover some of January's losses. UK sales were 2.2% higher than in February 2009, when they had fallen 1.8%.
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