High street fashion retailer Next posted better-than-expected sales figures for the first quarter of 2009.

High street retailer Next has announced expectation-exceeding store sales in the 14 weeks to May 2.

Despite the sales figures being better than anticipated, Next remains cautious about the future. The figures were released today (6 May) in Next’s interim management statement.

Like-for-like sales were 2.3% lower than last year. The figure is, however, well ahead of Next’s estimated decline of 6% to 9%. The sales to date have added £15 million to Next’s internal profit forecast.

In the statement, the fashion retailer warned of undue optimism over the figures as many factors may have buffered the number of sales, including a comparatively late Easter, warmer weather encouraging customers to purchase summer clothes and fewer people travelling abroad due to the weak sterling.

Next said the second quarter of 2009 is expected to yield weaker sales figures than the first, as “comparative figures are more challenging”. Next predicts like-for-like sales in the first half “will be within the range of -4% to -7% and that Next Directory sales will be broadly flat.”

There is also some concern about the effect a flu pandemic could have on retail figures. Next said that it is too early at this stage to predict the full effect an outbreak would have on consumer behaviour.

Next said: “Generally, we are happy with the positioning and composition of our ranges. Stock levels are in line with our expectations and below last year’s levels.”