LONDON, July 23 (Reuters) - Kingfisher, Europe'slargest home improvements retailer, posted improved sales growthin both Britain and France in its latest quarter, helped by softcomparative figures in the previous year.
The firm, which runs the B&Q and Screwfix chains in Britainand Castorama and Brico Depot in France and other countries,said on Thursday group sales at stores open over a year rose 3.5percent in the 10 weeks to July 11, the bulk of its secondfiscal quarter.
Same store sales rose 5.5 percent in the UK and Ireland andwere up 1.3 percent in France.
That compares to a first quarter rise of 1.6 percent in theUK and Ireland and a fall of 1.2 percent in France.
For the full second quarter, which includes an additionalthree weeks, analysts are on average forecasting a rise of 4.1percent for the UK and Ireland and growth of 0.3 percent inFrance. (Reporting by James Davey; editing by Kate Holton)