JD Sports defies the downturn with a rise in sales

JD Sports again showed it is possible to keep growing even in the face of a prolonged economic downturn, as its sales in the three months to 20 November rose 1.5 per cent.

"The trading environment in our markets remains tough and particularly so for [fashion]," the company said, adding that sports goods rose 3.5 per cent in the 16-week period whereas fashion dropped 6.6 per cent.

It said full-year results are "substantially dependent" on trading through the Christmas period, particularly the last two weeks of December.