Despite minimal change in underlying trends, data from the Scottish Retail Consortium and KPMG has shown that retail sales in Scotland have returned to growth.
The figures showed a 0.2 per cent rise in like-for-like sales in July and a total sales increase of 1.7 per cent.
Food, clothing and footwear were among products to sell particularly well, compared with their performance in June.
However, consumers are still cautious about making larger purchases, with homeware and appliances sales both down over the past year.
Richard Dodd, the Scottish Retail Consortium's head of media, said: "What growth there was in July came from food and drink, partly due to better weather later in the month, but also to the effect of inflation on top-line growth.
"Sales of non-food goods fell for the third consecutive month as consumers shunned non-essential buying. Scottish customers are more likely to be worried about their prospects than those in other parts of the UK and more reluctant to spend where they don't have to,” he added.
He also warned: "With public sector job cuts likely to hit hard and unemployment forecast to rise this year and next, conditions on the high street are likely to remain tough in the run-up to Christmas."
