Sales in Scotland during November grew by 4.2 per cent according to the Royal Bank of Scotland, which is a decrease from 5.3 per cent in October.

As has now become the pattern, sales growth in Scotland continued to increase at a lower rate than for the rest of the UK where total sales grew by 4.9 per cent.

Retailers gave mixed reports for November, with many citing a steady, positive impact from those shoppers stocking up for Christmas.

Fiona Moriarty, director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said: 'The slow down in retail sales compared to October was not unexpected given the strength of last year. However, these are still positive figures showing sales growing at a satisfactory rate. Retailers in November began to see signs of the Christmas spending build up and will be hoping this translates into a reasonable – if not spectacular – Christmas trading period.'