Sales at British retailer Marks & Spencer rose by 10.6% in the 11 weeks to the end of March compared with the same period a year earlier. This was ahead of expectations.
Non-food sales rose by 16.6%, while food sales were up 4.5%. Sales were boosted by an early Easter.
The company's fortunes began to pick up last year after three years of falling sales.
Marks & Spencer says the UK clothing market remains buoyant, but it is not assuming that consumer spending will continue at current rates for its 2002/03 financial year.
* Turnover in the company's international businesses fell by 3% because of a weaker performance in its Hong Kong stores.
