Spending on Scotland's high streets is continuing to show a slow recovery.
The latest study from the Sottish Retail Consortium (SRC) and KPMG showed that sales grew by 4.9% in October, helped by Halloween celebrations.
Like-for-like sales, which strip out new store openings, grew by 1.5% but was well behind the UK figure of 3.8%.
A spokesman for the retail consortium described the figures as "middling" and said that retailers would have their fingers crossed ahead of Christmas.
Richard Dodd, head of media at SRC, said: "Big doubts hang over 2010 concerning the impact of the VAT increase, more job losses and post-election government action on taxes and public spending."
Cheap costumes
October's sales figures were helped by Halloween, which fell on a Saturday this year.
Cheap Halloween costumes sold well, as did party food and drink.
However, the milder weather in October meant consumers delayed buying thick jumpers and heavier footwear.
Womenswear was particularly hard hit, although childrenswear continued to outperform adults' clothes.
Drawing conclusions from the latest retail figures which compare October 2009 with the same month a year ago, has been more difficult than usual.
'Banking crisis'
David McCorquodale, head of retail with KPMG in Scotland, said: "October 2008 was an influential month. Firstly, it snowed in Scotland, meaning clothing sales that year were buoyed by footwear and winter wear. The relatively mild weather in October this year has delayed sales in this sector.
"More importantly though, it was the month immediately after the banking crisis which resulted in a fall in confidence in spending on furniture and homeware."
The latest figures showed that homewear made further gains compared with that weak October in 2008 and much discounting.
Looking ahead to Christmas, although many retailers remain nervous about the festive period, the report said they were hoping these latest figures were a signal that a revival was underway.
