Argos sales sharply down

The owner of Argos blamed the weak consumer electronics market today for another sharp drop in sales at the catalogue retailer.

Home Retail Group, which also owns Homebase, said like-for-like sales at Argos fell by 8.8 per cent in 18 weeks to December 31, with the majority of the decline due to poor demand for video gaming and audio products.

It is the latest poor trading performance from the Argos business, which barely made a profit in the half year to August and is closing a number of stores in the coming weeks as leases expire.

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Home Retail added it will also close trial stores of its HomeStore&More homewares format at Abingdon, Aylesbury, Cambridge and Harlow.

The group said trading at Homebase outlets was more resilient, with like-for-like sales down by 2.6 per cent amid subdued demand for “big-ticket” items.

Cost cuts have kept it on course to meet the City’s forecast for profits of around £100m in the year to February 28, but the company warned investors to expect a significant cut in the full-year dividend payment.

Chief executive Terry Duddy described the trading environment as both volatile and demanding and said the company will continue to plan cautiously.