SRC hits out at squeeze

SRC director David Lonsdale

CONSUMERS are being squeezed from all sides according to David Lonsdale, director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, who has warned pressures on finances from government could curtail spending in shops.

Responding to the latest inflation figures from the ONS, which put CPI inflation for February 2018 at 2.7%, Lonsdale warned that family finances will feel pressure as inflation outstrips wage growth.

“Scottish households will see their finances tested further as rises in income tax, council tax and statutory minimum pension contributions kick in.

“This is likely to cause shoppers to carefully consider what purchases they can afford,” he said.