Online sales and promotions helped boost Christmas trading at value fashion and home retailer, Matalan.

During the five weeks to 29th December, sales at Matalan, which has stores in Gloucester and Cheltenham, increased by four per cent to £148 million, as reported by Retail Gazette.

In-store sales rose by 1.6 per cent, while digital sales soared by 33.3 per cent. But full price sales fell slightly, by 0.5 per cent.

Sales were up for the autumn as a whole, increasing by 4.9 per cent to £308.3 million in the 12 weeks to 24th November. During this period, full priced sales went up by 7.3 per cent.

Despite the successful Christmas period, Matalan predicts its full year earnings will be between £100 million and £102 million, down from the £104.5 million in the previous year.

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