Next Brand sales (VAT exclusive) in the third quarter were up 3.3%. This figure is in line with our performance in the first half; so sales for the year-to-date are up 3.2%, at the mid-point of the full year +2.0% to +4.5% sales guidance issued in September. The overall growth pattern for the Next Brand is unchanged, with further improvements in Next Directory (our online business) and the addition of profitable new space more than compensating for slightly weaker underlying Retail sales.
