Rise in total sales
Costume jewellery and accessories retailer Claire's unveiled comparable store sales were flat for the five weeks to December 30.

However, total sales for the five-week period rose 7 per cent to US$247.83 million (£128.4 million).

Like-for-like sales at Claire's International - which includes the UK - were in negative low single digits.

Claire's co-chairmen and co-chief executive officers Bonnie Schaefer and Marla Schaefer jointly stated: 'The pattern of deferred holiday shopping that we have seen for the past few years continued in full force this year.

'Across the board, business picked up materially during the last two weeks of the month, as shoppers continued to wait until the final moments to complete their shopping.'

They added: 'Spring merchandise is beginning to flow into our stores and we think the fresh and broad colour assortment will be well received by our customers.'