Sales from Next PLC (LSE:NXT) grew faster than expected in the first quarter, which won't surprise many followers of the high street retailer.
The canny clothing chain said full-price sales in the thirteen weeks to 27 April rose 5.7% on last year, slightly ahead of guidance for a 5% increase and last year's growth of 4%.
Online sales were up 8.8% and in-store sales were flat.
Sales in the second quarter are expected to be down 0.3% versus a strong period last year, with full-price sales guidance for the first half as a whole remaining at 2.5%.
This is because of the comparison with the second quarter last year when sales benefited from particularly warm weather from late May to the end of June, a repeat of which would not go unappreciated by most people in the UK.
Boss Simon Wolfson and the board are not changing full-year sales and profit guidance, which points to group pre-tax profit rising almost 5% to £960 million.