Kingfisher in the red

In the third quarter of the group's financial year Kingfisher recorded sales of £ 2.244 bn (€ 3.167 bn), which represents 8.5 per cent more (2.3 per cent like-for-like) than for the same period last year. Profit rose by 10.5 per cent to £ 173 mio (€ 256 mio). This growth was achieved abroad. The situation in the United Kingdom remains difficult. Overall sales increased by 2.4 per cent to £ 1.049 bn (€ 1.551 bn), though B&Q reports a same-store sales decline of 1.1 per cent. Sales in France rose by 1.5 per cent to £ 798 mio (€ 1.180 bn), in the rest of Europe by 27.4 per cent to £ 281 mio (€ 415 mio) and in Asia by 31.8 per cent to £ 116 mio (€ 172 mio).
Sales over the first nine months increased by 7.2 per cent to £ 6.593 bn (€ 9.746 bn), or by 0.4 per cent in like-for-like terms. Profit was down by 9 per cent to £ 404.5 mio (€ 598.1 mio).