British clothing and food store chain Marks and Spencer has said its underlying fourth quarter UK sales fell 4.9% - its sixth straight quarter of falling sales.
Like-for-like clothing and home sales - which strip out the effect of new stores - fell 6.7% in the 13 weeks to April 2, while food sales fell 3% during the same period.
The firm said it expected profits before tax and exceptional items for 2004/2005 to be in the range of £610m to £625m, in line with analysts' estimates.
'The trading environment continues to be difficult,' said chief executive Stuart Rose.
