Like-for-like sales in the UK at Marks & Spencer were down by 2.2% during the 13 weeks to 29 December.
Revenue from its clothing and home business dropped by 2.4%, which M&S said reflected lower footfall to stores and an increasing pace of closures.
Food sales also declined, by 2.1%.
Steve Rowe, chief executive, cited reducing consumer confidence, mild weather, Black Friday, and widespread discounting as reasons why November became “a very challenging trading period”.
“Improvements to our online proposition and operations helped us to mitigate lower footfall to stores resulting from, in part, the increasing pace of change in the store estate,” he said.
See also: M&S closures could create 3.8m sq ft of empty space
UK online revenue for the clothing and home business increased by 14%, which Rowe said was supported by improvements to its delivery proposition and operations at its Castle Donington distribution centre.
Rowe said he expected to see “more far reaching changes in range and store development as the year ahead unfolds”.
Full-year guidance remains unchanged.
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