Better sales for D Jones

A marked upswing in trading last month has helped top-end retailer David Jones swipe better-than-expected third quarter sales through its registers.

But with the timing of an upswing in consumer sentiment still unclear and the result of trading in the key winter clearance season yet to come, the Sydney-based department store chain stuck to its profit guidance.

David Jones yesterday reported a 3.3 per cent increase in sales to A$402.8 million ($484 million) for the three months to April 29 on solid sales of clothes, shoes, cosmetics and home entertainment products.