Debenhams upbeat on trading

Department store chain Debenhams today delivered an upbeat trading statement and said there were signs that conditions in the retail market were improving.

In the retailer’s first update since its return to the market in May after an absence of two years, Debenhams said sales for the year to September 2 rose by 6.6% compared with last year. Like-for-like sales rose by 0.5%.