P207 CEEFAX 207 Fri 20 May 21:14/20 G NEXT CONFIRMS 20% EXPANSION Next has reported buoyant trading in recent months. Chairman Lord Wolfson, addressing the company's annual meeting, said its retail division's sales since 1 February were 20% up on last year. Next Directory, meanwhile, had seen sales climb by around 25%. He noted that selling space at Next Retail had increased bz about 1.5%. Meanwhile, Club 24, Next's consumer credit operation, was continuing to trade in line with expectations. Headlines 201 Shake price 222 Next News SharesG-S Exchanges MonjyfileP207 CEEFAX 207 Fri 20 May 21:14/24 2/2 TESCO S—YS MARGIN GROWTH "UNLIKELY" Tesco's shareholders have been told gross margins in the first half are unlikely to top year-ago levels. Chairman Sir Ian MacLaurin told the supjrmarkjt group'u annual meeting that price inflation was running at around 1% and that no significant change was expected during 1994. He revealed that total group sales for the year to date were 10% ahrad of last year. Sales at existing stores were up b: more than 2%, although this advance had slowed in April. Headlines 201 Share price 223 Next News SharerS-Z Exchanges Monjyfile