Next will next month report that half-year sales reached £1.99 billion
General retailer Next beat its own sales forecast in the second quarter of 2018 but cautioned against over optimism by saying it believed the exceptional weather had brought forward the sale of summer goods.

The fashion-to-furnishings retail giant said full-price sales were up 2.8 percent in the three months to July 28, well ahead of the 1.0 percent full-price gain it forecast for the remainder of the year back in May.

"We believe that this over-achievement in sales was due to the prolonged period of exceptionally warm weather, which greatly assisted the sales of summer weight product," the retailer said in a trading statement ahead of releasing interim results next month (Sep. 25).

"It is almost certain that some of these sales have been pulled forward from August, so we are maintaining our sales and profit guidance for the year to January 2019," the company added.

Warm weather, while positive for summer fashion lines, is usually a drag on furniture sales. Next didn't provide any update on the performance of its sizeable home merchandise directorate.

Total half-year sales are likely to come in around £1.99 billion, up 3.9 percent on the previous year.