Next Raises Forecasts After Shoppers Get Pay Increases

  • Sales unexpectedly rose as consumers got annual pay increases
  • End of cold spell also boosted sales of spring-summer clothes

Next Plc raised its full-year sales and earnings forecasts, saying consumers are buying more clothes because of salary increases and warmer spring weather.

Next shares rose as much as 6% Monday after the British apparel and housewares chain saidBloomberg Terminal pretax profit should reach £835 million ($1.07 billion). The previous forecast was £795 million.