Next ’s trading update on Wednesday showed the UK fashion, home and beauty retailer continuing to prosper in a tough environment. The company said that in the 13 weeks to 25 October, Next full-price sales were up 10.5% year on year, £76 million ahead of its guidance of a 4.5% rise. It didn't give a monetary figure for sales in Q3, although it did say that full-year sales will be over £5 billion.

Sales “over-performed” in both its core UK and overseas markets although at 5.4%, the UK sales growth was below what it had managed in the first half. That said, it easily beat its own guidance of a 1.9% rise.

Overseas sales soared, albeit non-UK sales are much smaller and have more potential for explosive growth. But there’s no denying that a 38.8% jump easily outstripped growth achieved in the

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