Like-for-like sales at JD Sports Fashion have been hit by the difficult economic climate and strong comparatives from last year.

The sports retailer said that like-for-like sales across the group were down 1 per cent in the 11 weeks to November 29.

Its sports fascias were down 1.8 per cent and fashion up 3.3 per cent.

Bank was JD's best-performing fashion fascia, with like-for-like sales up 8.7 per cent for the period. Scotts suffered a decline of 6.8 per cent.

JD Sports Fashion had been one of the few retailers reporting positive like-for-like sales. In September it announced that sales were up 5.4 per cent in the 32 weeks to September 13 on a like-for-like basis.

The retailer said: “Trading for the 11 weeks since that date has been more difficult as a result of both strong prior year comparatives in the sports fascias and the general economic background”

JD stressed that it still expected pre-tax profits to meet current market expectations.

JD made no mention in its statement about its stake-building in struggling rival JJB Sports.

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