Next upgrades profit forecast again as cool weather helps sales

Retailer expects to make £10m more profit than previously predicted, taking full-year target to £885m

Next has upgraded annual profit expectations for the fourth time in five months after the arrival of cooler weather in late October gave a boost to sales.

The retailer said it now expected to make £10m more profit than previously forecast, taking its full-year target to £885m, after full-price sales rose by 4% in the three months to the end of October – double the pace of growth anticipated.