Home improvement group Hornbach has reported a rise of 3.6% in sales to e1.66bn (£1.4bn) for the first half ended on August 31. Sales for the second quarter were up 6.5%.

On a like-for-like basis, sales rose 0.8% in the first half and were up 3.7% in the second quarter. EBIT rose 7.6% to €140m (£116m) in the first half. Sales at the group’s international DIY retailing division during the first half increased 3.5%.