Sales down

Homebase, a UK DIY chain, completed the 2008/09 financial year (to 28 February) with sales of £ 1.413 bn. This amounts to a decline of 3.5 per cent on the previous year. The chain’s parent company, the Home Retail Group, reports a deficit of 10.2 per cent for the 345 DIY stores (previous year 331) in like-for-like terms.