Carpetright Reports Sales Growth in UK

London, England, Aug. 5, 2009--Britain's biggest floor coverings retailer, Carpetright said it grew sales in the first quarter, the first rise since the fourth quarter of 2007/08.

The group said sales at stores in the UK and Ireland open more than a year increased 1.4 percent in the 13 weeks to Aug. 1.

That compares with most analysts expectations of a fall and a decline of 15.3 percent in the fourth quarter of the previous financial year.

The outcome reflects a very weak first quarter in the previous year when like-for-like sales fell 15.4 percent as the recession began.

Underlying sales in the Rest of Europe division (The Netherlands, Belgium and Poland) fell 2.8 percent.

Total group sales increased 7.5 percent.

Carpetright said talks with housebuilders and insurers on possible new business were making "good progress".

In June, Carpetright posted a 72 percent slump in full-year profit and slashed its dividend.