Next reports ‘dramatic’ rise in sales in Christmas run-up

Fashion and homeware chain raises profit forecast again after bagging £38m more than expected

Next has upgraded profit hopes for the year after ringing up £38m more in sales than expected in the run-up to Christmas.

The fashion and homeware chain said that full-price sales stepped up dramatically, rising by 10% in the last two weeks before Christmas. As a result, sales rose by 5.7% in the nine weeks to 30 December, far better than the 2% expected.