Sales are up on last year

Food sales grew at their fastest rate since May as people began stocking up for the festive period, according to the Scottish retail monitor.

There were also strong performances from women's and men's clothing and leisure goods like DVD titles and Playstation 2 games.

The figures follow a 7.9% increase in sales in October.

Spending in Scotland is continuing to lag behind the rest of the UK - although the November figures saw the gap narrow.

Scottish Retail Consortium director Patrick Browne said that rising consumer confidence had been prompted by low interest rates and high levels of employment.

He said: "The retail sales figures for the last two months have been the best ever recorded by the sales monitor over the last three years.

Low prices, a fall in interest rates and a diversion from travel into shopping have all led to a strong growth in sales

Jeremy Peat, Royal Bank of Scotland

"This year's sales performance in the countdown to Christmas is much stronger than that recorded last year and retailers will be optimistic, although not complacent, about sales this Christmas."

He hoped that the trend would continue for the next few months.

Jeremy Peat, group chief economist at the Royal Bank of Scotland, said: "Scotland is heading for a buoyant Christmas trading period which should extend well into the New Year.

"Scottish retail sales continue to go from strength to strength with food sales putting in their best performance since May.

"Low prices, a fall in interest rates and a diversion from travel into shopping have all led to a strong growth in sales."