Next Raises Full-Year Profit Forecast After Strong First-Half Trading

The retailer says online and international sales plus warehouse savings have driven higher profits and urges the government to avoid tax rises that could weaken household spending.

Overview

Next reported stronger-than-expected first-half trading with group sales up 9% and underlying pre-tax profit of £569m for the six months to July, as reported on Thursday.
The company upgraded its full-year pre-tax profit guidance to about £1.26bn, citing higher sales and cost savings in its warehouse operations as the main drivers.
UK online sales outperformed previous guidance with a 7.4% rise while in-store sales fell only 1.7%, and international sales jumped roughly 24%, lifting overall growth.
Next trimmed its UK sales outlook for the second half from 2.8% to 2.0%, has raised prices by 1–2% and plans to keep modest price increases into early 2027 because of cost pressures.
Chief executive Lord Simon Wolfson warned that further tax rises would risk denting consumer demand and growth, a point Next used to press for fiscal restraint ahead of October’s Budget.