M&S Proifts Fall 17%

The pre-tax profits of M&S tumbled by 17% to £176.5m on total sales down 2.1% to £4.86bn.

Like-for-like sales in clothing and home fell by 5.5% during the six months to 30 September, worse than the expected 4.3% drop.

However, like-for-like sales in food grew by 0.9%, ahead of a forecast 0.3% rise.

M&S need to consider spinning off their food business into a stand alone business, and facing the reality that they are no longer a clothing retailer.