P203 CEEFAX 2 203 Wed 12 Jan 21:58/02
    
    
  
 NEW SALES SETBACK AT MARKS & SPENCER   
 Troubled stores group Marks & Spencer  
 has reported a further drop in sales   
 over the crucial Christmas and New Year
 trading period.                        
                                        
 Total like-for-like sales, which strip 
 out revenues from new store space, fell
 by 5.3% in the 15 weeks to January 8   
 compared with the previous year.       
                                        
 However, some analysts had predicted   
 sales could have fallen by up to 20%.  
                                        
 M&S's clothing and general non-foods   
 divjsjon saw an 8.8% fall in comparable
 sales, but food sales were up by 1.2%. 
                                        
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