Kingfisher, the parent company of B&Q, has raised its full-year earnings forecast even as half-year sales at the DIY retailer slowed, influenced by cautious British consumers delaying major purchases.
Comparable sales for B&Q across the UK and Ireland fell by 1.8 per cent during the second quarter. The decline was heavily driven by an 8.1 per cent drop in higher-value items, largely caused by reduced demand for bathroom products.
