New sales forecast more optimistic

Analysts at Kingfisher have revised their sales forecasts for the current and next two financial years upwards. For its British and Irish DIY chain B&Q the company expects like-for-like sales to increase by 1.6 per cent in fiscal 2015/16, by 2.6 per cent in 2016/17 and by 2.2 per cent in 2017/18. For Castorama in France the corresponding figures are 0.9, 1.6 and 1.8 per cent, for Brico Dépôt France 0.0, 1.2 and 1.6 per cent and for Poland 1.9, 2.1 and 2.4 per cent.The last forecasts in December 2014 were much more pessimistic, envisaging sales growth of only 1.3 per cent for B&Q for the current financial year and a decline in sales for Castorama and Brico Dépôt.