Results to give out clues on strength of the High Street

HIGH street giants Primark and John Lewis will shed light on how sales are faring as consumers remain cautious and competition with cheap online marketplaces grows.

- ANNA WISE Press Association Business Reporter

Primark's owner Associated British Foods will give investors a full-year trading update on Wednesday, and the John Lewis Partnership will unveil its half-year results on Thursday.

It comes at a fraught time for the retail sector, with many companies and industry bodies warning that they are being squeezed by rising costs.

Analysts are expecting Primark sales to grow by a "low single-digit" percentage over the year - having cut its outlook earlier in the year following signs of weaker consumer spending.

However, the low-cost fashion and homeware retailer indicated more recently that trading had improved on the back of better weather, helping boost sales of spring and summer lines.