Improvement for Home Depot at year’s end

Home Depot, an American DIY and home improvement group and global market leader, recorded sales of US $ 70.390 bn in its 2011/12 fiscal year (to 29 January). That is 3.5 per cent up on the previous year. The increase amounts to 3.4 per cent altogether in like-for-like terms, and of 3.0 per cent with regard to the stores in the United States. “We had a strong finish to 2011,” was the comment made by Frank Blake, chairman and CEO, on the figures. For the growth rates in the fourth quarter were appreciably higher, particularly in the domestic market. Altogether sales during this period saw growth of 5.9 per cent to US $ 16.014 bn, or 5.7 per cent like-for-like. The stores in America expanded by 6.1 per cent like-for-like.The number of outlets came to 2 252 at year’s end, or four more than the year before. The retail area remained the same at around 22 mio m². Home Depot operates DIY stores in Canada, Mexico and China in addition to those in America.