JD Sports sees sales weaken

Fashion retailer JD Sports reported a deterioration in same-store sales today but reassured the weak performance was partly down to tough comparisons to booming sales in the run up to last year’s World Cup.

The group, which operates 350 JD Sports and Size? outlets in the UK, said like-for-like sales for the first 18 weeks of the financial year declined 2.8%, compared to a 1.2% decline in the first eight weeks.

The UK-based retailer warned it was harder to interpret underlying trends as the period coincides with the period running up to the World Cup – but maintained its cautious outlook as the squeeze on consumer spending continues.

The retail sector has been under heavy pressure in recent months as companies - including JD rival JJB Sports – have announced store closures in the face of soft trading.