LONDON, May 28 (Reuters) - Kingfisher, Europe'sbiggest home improvement retailer, posted a 1.4 percent rise infirst quarter retail profit, helped by a strong performance atScrewfix which lifted sales at its British arm.
Kingfisher, which trades as B&Q and Screwfix in Britain andCastorama and Brico Depot in France, said on Thursday retailprofit for the 13 weeks to May 2 rose to 150 million pounds ($230 million) at constant currency, ahead of a company compiledconsensus forecast of 146 million pounds.
Underlying group sales grew 0.8 percent versus strongcomparative figures a year ago, with sales in France down 1.2percent but up 1.6 percent in the UK and Ireland, where thecompany also made gross margin gains after less promotions.
($1 = 0.6512 pounds) (Reporting by Neil Maidment; editing by Kate Holton)