Marks & Spencer has announced it is to employ an extra 20,000 seasonal staff and posted better-than-expected sales results, attributing the upturn to a rise in consumer confidence.
The upmarket retailer continued an improving trend over the last three quarters, posting a like-for-like sales fall by 0.5 per cent for the 13 weeks to September 26.
Food sales finally levelled out after eight quarters of continual decline following the relaunch of the M&S Cook range.
Overall sales growth of 2.7 per cent was driven by online sales - up by almost a third - and international sales were up 9.6 per cent.
The retailer also announced its intentions to take on extra seasonal staff, an increase on 2008, in the run up to Christmas
Executive chairman Sir Stuart Rose said: "While there is more visibility in the marketplace and consumers appear more confident, we continue to be cautious about the outlook.
"We expect 2010 to be a tough year and we will continue to run the business accordingly."
Rose expressed confidence over Christmas trading but stopped short of predicting the retailer’s first like-for-like growth since 2007.
He did add that likely tax rises, rising unemployment and market insecurity were likely to continue to put "pressure on pockets" in the next year.
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