WHAT IS THE NEWS IN GUARDIAN.CO.UK ABOUT WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES?
Strong demand for car parts, bikes and camping equipment has boosted first-quarter profits at Halfords, helping it dodge the gloom seen in many parts of the high street. The company said sales grew by 1.7% in the 13 weeks to June 27 against strong comparatives last year, with the rate of growth increasing each month during the quarter. Sales would have been better still – up 3% – if the group had benefited from a full Easter in the quarter like last year, it said. However, like-for-like sales were up just 0.2%. Efforts to cut costs and healthy margins left profits in the three months ahead of Halford’s expectations. Car parts such as wiper blades and batteries made a strong contribution as motorists continue to spend on their vehicles while cutting back in other areas. Leisure sales, which include bikes and camping equipment like tents, picked up after a slow start. Sales of in-car technology such as satnavs and stereos also continued to climb in both volume and value. Outdoor retailer
