High street and high-end shops to reveal holiday performances
A HOST of retailers are due to give a glimpse of how they have performed over the key Christmas period this week.
Marks & Spencer is expected to reveal a bruising set of numbers in its trading statement on Thursday. Nomura expects the high street giant to post UK like-for-like sales 1.4 per cent lower than last year, weighed down by poor clothing and general merchandise takings.
Debenhams was bullish going into the festive rush, saying stock levels were “tight as a drum”. While analysts at Panmure Gordon have noted heavy discounting, they expect like-for-likes to be 1.5 per cent higher than last year when the firm updates tomorrow.
Ted Baker is also expected to report rising sales in its update on Wednesday, and JD Sports is also in line to impress on Thursday.
Leisure firms have generally had a good Christmas, market-watchers believe. Pizza chain Domino’s has invested heavily in advertising so is likely to declare rising sales, while The Restaurant Group looks set to beat expectations, Numis has predicted.