Retail Week looks ahead to the next seven days, with a pre-close update from WHSmith.

WHSmith

The retailer will report a pre-close trading update on Thursday. WHSmith is sure to report the usual story with its travel division outperforming the high street.

At its half-year, its travel arm generated a 7% sales increase but high street like for likes fell 4% and contributed to a total sales dip of 1% over the period.

Unusually for Smiths, profits also suffered a 1% drop in pre-tax profits, possibly signalling an end to the retailer’s old standby of managing to increase profits despite shrinking sales.

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