Marks & Spencer is expected to reveal a dip in clothing sales for the seventh quarter in a row when it updates the market on Thursday.

The retailer is expected to reveal that general merchandise sales – comprising fashion and home – fell 4.5% in the fourth quarter.

M&S is losing ground on fashion retailers including Primark, Zara and Next.

The retailer is expected to say that the cold weather played its part in hampering sales.

Another dip in fashion sales will further concern investors and pile more pressure on chief executive Marc Bolland. However, food is holding up well. Sales in the category are expected to rise 3%.