Clothing retailer Truworths yesterday reported that group retail sales for the 47 week trading period ended on May 18 increased to R5,166billion, up 16,1percent compared with the same 46 week period last year.

Clothing retailer Truworths yesterday reported that group retail sales for the 47 week trading period ended on May 18 increased to R5,166billion, up 16,1percent compared with the same 46 week period last year.

The increase came despite a challenging trading environment, it said.

Same store retail sales grew by 8,7percent. Trading space increased by 8,6percent relative to June last year.

If the effect of the extra week in the current period were to be excluded, group retail sales would have shown an improvement of 13,9percent and 6,7percent on a same store basis, it said.

In the 20-week trading period subsequent to the end of the group's interim period on December 30 2007, group retail sales increased by 12,2percent from last year. - I-Net Bridge