Debenhams PLC - Trading Statement

RNS Number:9249D
Debenhams PLC
18 January 2000


DEBENHAMS PLC - TRADING STATEMENT

In the 3 weeks to Saturday 25 December 1999, when we traded
prime, like for like sales were up 7.0% on the previous year.
The Sale started as planned on the 27 December 1999 and the
performance to date has been ahead of expectations.

In the 20 weeks to Saturday 15 January 2000, like for like
sales were up 0.2% year on year with the gross margin being up
0.8% although the value of total sales was down 1.3%.  For
reasons explained at the Preliminary Results on 19 October
1999, total sales for the first half of the current financial
year will be lower than like for like sales.  For the year as
a whole, we anticipate that like for like sales will be in
line with total sales.

Old seasons stocks have been tightly controlled and are at a
similarly low level to the previous year.

We will announce our Interim Results on Tuesday 11 April 2000.

Peter Jarvis, Chairman, commented:

"We are encouraged by the strong like for like sales and
margin growth seen over the last few weeks given the difficult
trading conditions earlier in the autumn.  Our ability to
adapt and vary our product ranges to changes in consumer
spending has helped this improvement in performance."


For further information contact:

Matthew Roberts        Finance Director
                       0171 408 3229

Joanna Lane-Jones      Head of Corporate Communications
                       0171 408 3459

Name of authorised company official responsible for making
this notification:

John Hodges - Deputy Company Secretary

Debenhams plc.  Registered in England.  Company No. 3430071
Registered Office: 1 Welbeck Street, London W1A 1DF


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