 Wickes is hoping sales will improve in the latter part of the year |
Weak consumer spending has continued to hit sales at Wickes home improvement centres, but owner Travis Perkins has said trading is recovering. Like-for-like sales - which ignore new store openings - at Wickes were down 9.4% in the first four months of 2006.
Travis Perkins said the recent pick-up in the housing market should lift trading in the second half of the year.
Travis's trade business did better than its retail side, boosted by its plumbing and heating units.
 |  Lead indicators... continue to suggest activity levels in our markets will improve gradually in the second half |
Total turnover at its trade division was up 2.8% over the four month period, Travis said, but like-for-like sales were down 1.6%.
Total group turnover for the period was up by 9% against the same point last year, and Travis said overall trading was "in line" with expectations.
'Challenging' trading
The sales downturn at Wickes has dragged on Travis Perkins's performance, and led to the company issuing a profit warning last year.
The UK home improvement/DIY sector has been struggling of late, with both the Homebase and B&Q DIY chains recently reporting falling sales.
Travis Perkins said that it expected "challenging trading conditions for the remainder of the first half of the year".
"Lead indicators, particularly from the housing market, continue to suggest activity levels in our markets will improve gradually in the second half," it added.
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