Home improvement retailer B&Q said sales of showroom merchandise — its kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms offer — declined in its third quarter.

Showroom lines were down 4 per cent in the three months to end October, the retail giant said, with fewer promotions as the firm focussed instead on what it called every day great value.

It was more promotional in other areas, however, with a big price investment and clearance activity in core essential DIY merchandise. This resulted in sales volumes — the quantity of goods sold — rising 7.2 per cent, but total sales value rising only 0.9 per cent to £922m.

Indoor goods — excluding kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms — were up 1 per cent with outdoor merchandise up around 3 per cent.

B&Q forms the principal part of European home improvement giant Kingfisher’s UK business. Weak sales in France meant group sales for the quarter declined 3.6 per cent to £2.82bn.