For the 25 weeks up to the first day of the retailer's End of Season Sale on 18 July, total Next retail sales were up 1.4%. Like for like sales in the 394 stores that traded continuously were down 1.9%.
Next Directory sales were up 1.1%, while total Next brand sales were up 1.3%.
Sales of summer clothing have benefited from much better weather than last year. Next estimates that the warm temperatures have improved Next Retail sales by between 2% and 3%, which will put sales for the first half ahead of expectations.
The retailer also said it was ‘much happier' with the design and fashion content of ranges across all product areas.
Next launched its End of Season Sale on 18 July with 19% less stock than last year and said initial clearance rates have been ‘encouraging'.
This year Next will open 13 stand alone Home stores and a further 17 new Next stores.
Next said the first half benefited significantly from favourable weather comparisons, and could not assume that the second half sales will be in line with those of the first half.
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