Published: September 18, 2025 at 2:05 pm
Shares in Next have fallen despite the fashion and homeware retailer reporting a double-digit increase in half-year profits.
The FTSE 100 company posted a 13.8% rise in group profit before tax to £515m for the six months to 26 July 2025, with sales climbing more than 10% to £3.25bn. Post-tax earnings per share also jumped nearly 17% to 330p, while the board declared an interim dividend of 87p per share.
However, the retailer struck a cautious note on the UK economy, warning that growth ahead would be “anaemic”.
It cited weakening job opportunities, regulatory pressures, high government spending and rising taxes as factors set to weigh on productivity and competitiveness.
Its share price has dropped from £120.20 at the close of play yesterday to £115.35 at the time of writing.