They may not be waterproof, or the height of fashion, but the tweeds worn by gamekeepers and ghillies on country estates in the north-east and the Highlands do have a role in contributing to the rural economy.
According to figures released this week, more than £250,000 was spent last year on the garments, providing valuable income for the tweed industry.
More figures with a distinctly Scottish flavour will emerge today as Irn Bru makers release interim trading results covering the first half of this year.
This week sees the Bank of England marking the 20th anniversary of it gaining monetary policy independence, granted by then chancellor Gordon Brown. The bank is staging a two-day conference later this week that will consider how the move has affected the performance of the UK economy.
The bank will also publish its latest Financial Policy Committee statement today.
Other reports due to come out this week include the Office for National Statistics’ quarterly national accounts and final estimate of second quarter growth on Friday and the results of UK Finance’s mortgage lending study tomorrow.
Companies with final results due this week include MJ Gleeson, Close Brothers Group and Hotel Chocolat.
