LONDON, Oct 30 (Reuters) - British clothing retailer Next
kept its profit guidance for the full 2019-20 year on
Wednesday, as it reported third quarter sales growth slightly
ahead of guidance given in September.
Next, which trades from about 500 stores in the UK and
Ireland, about 200 stores in 40 countries overseas and its
Directory online business, said full price sales including
interest income rose 2.0% in its third quarter to Oct. 26.
The group said it believed that strong sales in July pulled
forward sales from August. It said sales in September were
adversely affected by unusually warm weather, while it saw a
significant improvement in October when temperatures fell.
"We believe the improved sales growth in October recouped
some of the lost sales in September and we do not expect sales
growth for the rest of the year to be as strong as October," it
added.
(Reporting by James Davey; editing by Sarah Young)