Department store group Debenhams total cumulative sales for the 19 weeks to 13 January are up by 6.3 per cent compared with the same period last year, while like-for-like sales in the UK retail business are down 4.0 per cent.

Debenhams stated that the group's sales mix in the first half had been affected by slower than expected clothing sales and as a consequence of the impact of the integration of the Roche stores and their reliance on lower gross margin concession sales. "Debenhams' sales performance has improved since we reported figures for the period to 10 December 2006 but the market remains challenging and we are cautious about the out-turn for the rest of this financial year," said chief executive Rob Templeman.