Carpetright the carpet and floor coverings retailer has today published its Interim Management Statement for the 13 weeks to 31 January 2009.

The results showed group sales down by 9% from the chains 565 outlets across the country and Ireland.

Total sales in the five weeks to 31 January were up 7.9% including Sleepright, which the chain bought 102 outlets from in 5 December 2008.

But, like-for-like (lfl) sales - excluding Sleepright - for the 13 weeks were down 15.9%.

The UK and Republic of Ireland recorded a total sales decrease of 13.2%, which included a 2.2% contribution from the Sleepright business.

However, business in the rest of Europe, the Netherlands, Belgium and Poland, continues to make progress.

Sales in local currency increased by 10.1%, but lfl sales were marginally down at 0.6%.

Lord Harris of Peckham, chairman and chief executive of the firm, said: "As I have said before, the UK trading environment is more difficult than at any time in my working life, with a constant news flow of financial turmoil and redundancies.

"These are difficult times we continue to trade cash positively and the group remains strongly positioned to extend its market leading position when trading conditions improve."



The group will report its pre-close trading update on 28 April 2009.