Next plc has strong growth in online sales but says the consumer environment will remain "subdued"
Next, the high street clothes and home products retailer, has reported a rise in first half profits.
Pre-tax profits rose 8.2% to £271.8m ($429.4m; 322.8m euros) for the six months to July 2013.
Total revenue rose 2.2% to £1.68bn, boosted by online sales through its Next Directory arm and an expansion in retail space, the company said.
Next said business conditions are "marginally more benign", but will remain "subdued" for at least a year.
A more buoyant housing market was proving good for its home products business, it said, but the company warned that a decline in consumers' earnings after inflation could "rule out a strong recovery in the consumer economy."
Chief executive Lord Wolfson said: "The Group has made good progress in the first half, delivering profits at the upper end of our expectations.
"Looking ahead the economy looks set to improve moderately, albeit at a slow pace and with the risk that credit easing may not translate into growth in real earnings."
Source: BBC News - Business http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24059645#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
