Retailer Debenhams said today its latest like-for-like sales fell 4.2 per cent as unseasonably warm weather in September and October made for "volatile" trading.
Britain's second-biggest department store chain, which returned to the stock market in May after two years in private equity hands, reported its full-year turnover to September 2nd rose 6.6 per cent to £2.19 billion.
The figure was in line with analysts' expectations. But the first seven weeks of its new financial year were hit by higher-than-usual temperatures that have forced British retailers to hold back their big-ticket new winter coats and woollens and kept shoppers out of stores.
In August Debenhams confirmed it was to take over the leases on nine Roches Stores in the Republic in a deal worth at least €29 million, bringing its number of outlets in the Republic to 12.
