Troubled retailer Marks & Spencer today showed it had suffered an awful Christmas trading period with sales falling by 5.1%.
Chief executive and chairman Luc Vandevelde said the overall appeal of the retailer's adult clothing ranges was "simply not good enough".
Sales on a like-for-like basis, excluding income from new stores, fell by 5.1% in the 16 weeks to January 20 and by 2.3% in the critical eight week Christmas trading period, to the same date.
The group said that while the number of shoppers coming into its stores had increased over Christmas, "the inconsistent appeal of our adult clothing ranges caused lower than expected sales".
This led to excess stock and higher marking down of goods in an effort to clear them.
Total clothing sales fell by 9.3% in the 16 week period and 4.8% in eight weeks to January 20.
Food sales slipped by 8% and 3.9% respectively and, on a like-for-like measure, were down 9.6% in the 16 weeks and 5.5% in the eight weeks.
The only bright spot was in sales of home furnishings and general goods, where total sales lifted by 9.5% in the 16 weeks and 6.7% in the eight week period.
PA