UK department store chain Debenhams has reported flat underlying sales for the six months to February 26.
In a trading update, the company said gross sales rose by 3.2% compared with a year earlier, but sales were flat when the effect of new stores was stripped out. The statement did not give a breakdown of the performance of its Irish stores.
Debenhams said pre-tax profit for the period was expected to be ahead of the same period last year and in line with expectations. It said higher margins and lower interest charges - as it reduced its debt - helped offset the impact of severe December weather.
Chief executive Rob Templeton said he was pleased with the first-half performance in a difficult trading environment, but he said trading in the second half was likely to be difficult in the second half as UK consumers were under pressure from inflation, higher taxes and spending cuts.
