Next set for profits fall as high street woes continue

A consensus of City analysts are pencilling in an 8% fall in annual pre-tax profits to £725 million and the figures will come at a time of growing concern for brick-and-mortar retailers.

As well as the administrations of Toys R Us and Maplin, Debenhams, Mothercare and Carpetright have all issued profit warnings this year.

To compound matters, a spate of firms including Jamie’s Italian, burger chain Byron and Prezzo have shut hundreds of stores as consumer confidence dives in the face of Brexit-fuelled inflation.

Next has not been immune from the malaise, but the clothing chain posted a surprise rise in sales over Christmas and upgraded its profit forecast.

Next said full-price sales in the 54 days to December 24 increased 1.5%, ahead of expectations, with part of the improvement down to much colder weather leading up to Christmas.

As a result, Next upped its full-year profit guidance by £8m to £725m, although the figure is still a long way off last year’s £790.2m.

Sales at its high street outlets declined 6.1% and George Salmon, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: “Next’s Christmas trading update showed high street sales continuing to suffer.

“That’s a trend that looks set to continue, but the outlook for next year has improved.”

Next chief executive Lord Simon Wolfson has previously said that Next will look to reduce costs by renegotiating rents with landlords and controlling wages and man hours.

He also said that inflationary pressure will ease throughout 2018.