The weak economic backdrop isn't holding Halfords back. In fact, the group's trading update this week reported yet another impressive performance with like-for-like sales having risen 1.7 per cent in the first six months of its financial year, and by 2.2 per cent in the second quarter.
That momentum is largely being driven by a robust performance from the leisure side, where the cycle business in particular has continued to bound ahead. Halfords is also successfully exploiting an increased interest in camping as hard-pressed consumers decide it's cheaper to take their holidays in the UK. Management says that the car maintenance side has continued to trade strongly as well - although revenues from satellite navigation equipment have continued to decline.
