Mobile phone specialist Carphone Warehouse’s tills rang out a merry Christmas, as December sales and profits climbed.

Carphone Warehouse chief executive Charles Dunstone said the business had outperformed the market and that he was confident about its prospects. “We believe we are well-positioned as a group, despite the more uncertain consumer environment,” he said.

The retailer posted a 3.6 per cent rise in comparable store sales in December, when like-for-like gross profit increased eight per cent.

In the third quarter, retail revenues rose13 per cent to£650 million, up 1 per cent on a like-for-like basis. Dunstone said full-year expectations were unchanged.

Carphone’s joint venture in the US with Best Buy is “progressing well”, Dunstone said. Carphone now has a presence in 181 Best Buy shops and eight standalone stores.

Carphone’s Geek Squad technology support business will be launched in Spain this month.

Broker Numis noted: “Carphone is better placed to weather a consumer downturn, because a large proportion of its revenues are recurring, as well as the ability of its clients to often upgrade their phones for free.”