Marks & Spencer clothing sales fail to measure up
The chain is set to report its ninth consecutive quarter of falling general merchandise sales – which span clothing and homewares – when it publishes results for the six months to the end of September.
Another fall in general merchandise sales, which analysts expect to decline by 1.5 per cent in its second quarter, would heap more pressure on chief executive Marc Bolland.
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Hide AdThe former Morrisons boss has invested heavily in advertising campaigns featuring stars including Dame Helen Mirren and Helena Bonham-Carter, pictured, to revive clothing sales.
Analysts on average expect M&S to report pre-tax profits of £262 million for the six months, down from £289.5m a year earlier.
But despite predictions of more glum general merchandise trading, the company’s shares have soared over the past year, including a sharp spike in recent weeks.