| Updated:
WH Smith sales better than hoped
WH Smith, the British newspaper, books and stationery retailer, reported a better than expected four per cent fall in underlying third quarter sales yesterday and said it was confident of its full-year prospects.
The group, which trades from 557 high street stores across the UK, said sales at stores in its town centre businesses open more than a year fell five per cent over the 13 weeks to May 30.
In the travel business – outlets at airports, train stations, hospitals and motorway service areas – like-for-like sales were down two per cent.
“The economic environment remains uncertain and, whilst we continue to be cautious about consumer spending, we are confident in the outcome for the full-year,” the company said.