Warmer weather and pay rises for workers have increased sales at Next in recent weeks, prompting the clothing and homeware retailer to upgrade its profit forecast for this year.
The company, which has about 500 stores and is considered a good barometer of consumer spending, said in a surprise update that there had been an “over-performance” in sales over the past seven weeks, sending its share price nearly 5% higher and making it the top riser on the FTSE 100.
