Increase comes from abroad

Growth abroad and falls in the company’s domestic business have been announced by the British DIY retail group Kingfisher. In the 23 weeks to 10 July the group recorded total sales 0.1 per cent up on the equivalent period last year, and 1.3 per cent down like-for-like. The last ten weeks brought an increase of 0.3 per cent and a decrease of 0.8 per cent like-for-like. The French Castorama and Brico Dépôt stores increased their sales over this period by 3.9 per cent (2.6 per cent like-for-like). In the United Kingdom and Ireland B&Q lost 3.6 per cent (-4.4 per cent like-for-like). Business saw negative development in Poland as well (-1.1 per cent, or -4.2 per cent like-for-like). The 17.1 per cent minus in China reflects the drop in the number of stores. Sales actually rose by 8.2 per cent in like-for-like terms.