Gadgets sold well, but group suffered over PC margins
Dixons Group had a mixed Christmas trading period, with gains in entertainment equipment such as flatscreen TVs offset by price deflation in the PC market.

Overall, the group recorded a 10 per cent gain in total growth, with a 3 per cent increase in like-for-like growth in the four weeks to January 8. The Dixons chain suffered a decrease in total growth by 14 per cent, as a result of store closures. Like-for-like growth for the chain increased by 10 per cent over the period. Conversely, PC World's total growth increased by 9 per cent, while like-for-like growth fell 3 per cent, because of price deflation in desktop and laptop PCs.

The retailer said that gross margins were down on last year as a result of lower credit commissions, higher business-to-business sales and higher internet sales.

Dixons Group chief executive John Clare said: 'We had planned for a challenging trading environment in the UK throughout the peak period. The group competed robustly in the marketplace, delivering overall like-for-like sales growth.'