Next delivers sales and earnings growth

■ Brand sales up 1.4 per cent in the first quarter

■ £36m of share buybacks completed, on target for £200m this year

■ Maintained pre-tax profit guidance of £560m-£610m

On the face of it, a 1.4 per cent increase in total first-quarter sales at Next doesn't look that great, especially as the amount of selling space climbed 2.9 per cent - that suggests that like-for-like high-street retail sales fell by a hefty 6.8 per cent, although that weakness was once again offset by a decent performance from its directory business, which grew sales by 11.8 per cent.

And as analysts point out, the latest figures were measured against tough comparatives from a year earlier, when sales growth hit 5.2 per cent, boosted by the warm weather and the royal wedding. Weakening comparative figures in the second quarter mean Next is still well on track to deliver first-half sales growth at the top end of its 1-4 per cent guidance.

Alongside its continuing share buy-back programme, that should deliver healthy earnings growth this year - should brand sales growth hit the top end of the range over the full year, earnings will climb 13 per cent.

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