Next has upgraded profit hopes for the year after ringing up £38m more in sales than expected in the run-up to Christmas, but warned that difficulties in the Red Sea could delay deliveries and hit sales in the year ahead. The fashion and homeware chain said full-price sales had stepped up dramatically, rising by 10%, in the last two weeks before Christmas. As a result, sales rose by 5.7% in the nine weeks to 30 December, far better than the 2% expected. It is the fifth time in seven months that Next has increased its profit forecast . Next does not expect to have to put up prices in the year ahead as costs have remained steady. The…
