Chief executive John Clare attributed the drop in profits to a weak performance in Italy. Excluding Italy, a strong performance across the rest of the group meant underlying operating profits soared 30 per cent.
Group sales were up 14 per cent to£3.8 billion for the 28 weeks to November 11, compared with£3.33 billion the year before.
Group like-for-likes increased 5 per cent, with electricals up 4 per cent and computing 3 per cent. Electricals sales increased 10 per cent to£2.5 million and total computing revenue was up 8 per cent to£1.1 million.
Sales at Currys - including Currys.digital and Dixons Tax Free - rose 4 per cent to£1.3 million, compared with£1.2 million the year before. Like-for-likes increased 5 per cent, with strong sales of flatscreen TVs and laptop computers.
The conversion of the Dixons high street stores to the Currys.digital format was completed to plan. However, sales at Dixons Tax free were affected by the disruption at UK airports during the summer.
Sales at PC World - including PC World Business and Genesis Communications - increased 6 per cent to£940.5 million, against£891.3 million the year before, and like-for-likes were up 3 per cent.
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