HMV upbeat despite Xmas sales drop

Entertainment group HMV insisted today that it still has a future – despite reporting a further drop in sales in the run-up to Christmas.

HMV, which owns 256 stores in the UK and Ireland, said its plans to shift focus to technology products, by refitting stores with an extended gadget range, saw group like-for-like sales fall 8.1% in the five weeks to December 31.