Like-for-likes down, but margins unaffected
Carpetright has blamed the hot weather this summer for a fall in first quarter like-for-like sales, but said gross margins were continuing to improve.

In the UK and Ireland, like-for-like sales were down 0.3 per cent for the 13 weeks to July 29. Total sales were up 4.3 per cent.

In the rest of Europe, where the retailer has stores in Belgium, Poland and the Netherlands, like-for-like sales were up 3.9 per cent and total sales increased 9.1 per cent.

Chairman and chief executive Lord Harris of Peckham said: 'Sales were strong in May, but June and July were adversely affected by the hot weather across the UK and Europe. August has started encouragingly.'

Lord Harris added that the group had improved gross margins and seen a softening in rental cost inflation for the first time in many years.

During the quarter, the carpet and floor coverings retailer opened 39 stores in the UK and Ireland and closed three. Internationally, one store was opened in the Netherlands. The group has 575 stores in total, including 57 concessions.

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