Sluggish sales greet board newbies at Myer

Myer had been looking at a 1.6 per cent sales dip before an uptick in trade in the past seven weeks. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

The Reserve Bank's latest interest rate hike won't help sales at department store chain Myer which has started the financial year softer as consumers bear the brunt of cost-of-living pressures.

Sales for the first quarter were down 0.9 per cent on the previous year but have improved in the past seven weeks.