Marks & Spencer (M&S) has announced that group sales increased 2.9 per cent during the first quarter of 2009/10boosted by sales both at home and overseas.
UK sales through the 13-week period ended 27 June grew 1.7 per cent, according to the group, with food sales up 2 per cent. On a like-for-like basis, overall sales fell 1.4 per cent, with food sales dropping 0.5 per cent.
International sales grew 15.9 per cent during the first quarter, while online M&S Direct sales climbed by an impressive 28 per cent.
'We are pleased with the improving trend in our performance,' said group chairman Sir Stuart Rose. 'This demonstrates that the actions we are taking are working . Customers have responded well to our initiatives, particularly our 125th anniversary campaign, and recently voted as the UK's most trusted retail brand.
'Consumer confidence appears to be stabilising. However, we remain cautious about the outlook for the remainder of this and next year and will continue to run the business accordingly,' Mr Rose added.