UK Retailers Report on Poor Year

The UK’s largest retailer of licensed products, 800-plus store Woolworth, reported flat like-for-like sales for the 38 weeks to Oct. 27, with a decrease of 0.4 percent compared to the same period last year. Chief executive Trevor Bish-Jones said trading at the start of the second half was impacted by bad weather as well as sporting events including the Rugby World Cup, keeping shoppers out of stores. He said the full year results were also likely to be “flattish.” The business usually makes a loss the first half, and a profit in the second, which includes the crucial Christmas trading period.