US fashion retail group Urban Outfitters posted record sales for its third quarter.

Sales at the group, which has seven stores in England and two in Dublin, soared 23 per cent to US$379.3 million (£180.4 million) in the three months to October 31. Like-for-like sales climbed 8 per cent, driven by sales increases at its Anthropolgie and Free People store chains of 17 per cent and 16 per cent respectively.

Urban Outfitters said like-for-like sales at its eponymous chain rose “slightly” during the quarter.

Direct-to-consumer sales increased 30 per cent and Free People Wholesale sales rose 34 per cent in the quarter.

Urban Outfitters chief executive Glen Senk said: “We are pleased that all of our brands produced positive comparable store results. We still believe our largest opportunity over the next several quarters rests with further execution of the Urban brand merchandise initiatives.”

Urban Outfitters opened 12 stores during the quarter and 23 during the first nine months of the year. The retailer expects to open about 38 shops during the full year.