Home Depot sustains positive trend

Home Depot has managed to carry on the growth trend, which began at the end of last year, into the new fiscal year. Headquartered in Atlanta, USA, the world’s biggest DIY and home improvement chain reported sales in the first quarter (to 29 April 2012) of US $ 17.8 bn. That is an increase of 5.9 per cent on the same quarter last year. Even in like-for-like terms the overall figure was still 5.8 per cent up, and as much as 6.1 per cent in the United States itself. “We had a better than expected start to the year; this was driven by the record-beating warm weather, and by continuous demand for our core ranges,” is how Frank Blake, chairman and CEO, commented on the figures.