M&S hit by non-food sales slump

Marks & Spencer suffered its worst non-food sales for more than three years as a failure to buy the right stock compounded grim high street trends.

The retailer, which has more than 700 stores in the UK and Ireland, blamed stock problems for a 6.8% decline in clothing and general merchandise sales in the 13 weeks to June 30 – its worst performance since the quarter to December 2008.