Sports retailer JD posts fall in January sales amid 'challenging market'

Like-for-like sales in the Ireland and the UK fell by more than 3% in the fourth quarter

Chief executive Regis Schultz said on Thursday that the current trading environment "remained challenging due to less product innovation and elevated promotional activity, especially online".

Sportswear retailer JD Sports has warned of challenging trading conditions following a drop in like-for-like sales in January, resulting in growth of just 0.1% in the last quarter.

Like-for-like sales in Ireland and the UK fell 3.2% in the fourth quarter, a drop it blamed on a higher proportion of clothing sales in its mix than in other regions and a decision not to discount as much as some online rivals.