Primark sales growth slows down

Weaker trading over the Christmas period created a marginal drag on first half revenues at discount clothing retailer Primark.

The Irish-founded company, which trades here as Penneys, yesterday posted first half revenues of just under £2.67bn (€3.38bn), for the six months to the end of February — up 5% year-on-year but ahead less than 1% on a like-for-like basis.

Unseasonably warm weather across northern Europe damaged like-for-like sales while the positive impact of new openings in certain markets also eased.