Carpetright has posted double-digitgrowth for its value range products, as consumers feel the pinch.

Sales of the range, which the retailer launched more than three months ago, more than doubled in the eight weeks to August 1. When it had been trading for five weeks, the range – priced at£8 to£12 a metre – made up 8 per cent of total sales, but after 13 weeks of trading it accounted for 19.7 per cent.

Chief executive Lord Harris said he is determined to give consumers better value. “It’s what our customer wants,” he said.

Last week, the carpet specialist revealed UK and Republic of Ireland like-for-likes slumped 15.4 per cent in the 13 weeks to August 2. Harris said the fall was reflective of low consumer confidence and mortgage approvals.

“The results are disappointing, but in the [general] market, they’re pretty good; in the flooring market though, they are very good,” he said. “We’re hoping the next quarter will be better. With retailers going out of business, we can save some market share.”

He said new efficiencies at its warehouse will save on costs. “This is a goldmine for us in terms of cost savings over the coming years,” he explained.

Lord Harris lambasted the Government, saying: “A lot of retailers’ problems are down to the Government taxing us heavily and kidding us inflation is 4 per cent, when really it’s between 8 and 9 per cent.”

Allied Carpets posted losses of£6.8 million for last year, compared with the£6.5 million loss it recorded the year before.