Trading Statement

Great Universal Stores PLC
11 January 2001


                                                               11 January 2001




                      THE GREAT UNIVERSAL STORES P.L.C.

                         THIRD QUARTER TRADING UPDATE




The Great Universal Stores P.L.C. (GUS), the retail, information and business
services group, is today issuing its regular update on trading in its main
businesses.

Argos Retail Group

% change in sales year on year for the 14 weeks to 6 January 2001*

Argos     - total                                                       9%

     - like-for-like                                                    6%
UK Home Shopping                                                        -5%

* These figures exclude the impact of Argos Additions and jungle.com.

In the 14 weeks to 6 January 2001, sales at Argos, including Argos Additions
and jungle.com, increased by 13% over the same period last year. Excluding
Additions and jungle, sales grew by 9%, with like-for-like sales up 6%. The
sales increase was driven by strong growth in electricals, furniture, mobile
phones and jewellery. Argos Direct, the delivery to home operation, performed
very well, as did sales over the internet. Gross margins were again above
those for the same period last year, reflecting improved purchasing and a more
favourable product mix.

Argos Additions continued to perform in line with expectations, selling as
much in this third quarter as it did in the whole of the first half. The Argos
Additions catalogue and Argos store card will both be rolled out to all stores
later this month.

Sales at UK Home Shopping for the same period were 5% lower than last year.
This is in line with the first half performance and reflects the continued
reduction in customer recruitment expenditure. Gross margins were broadly
level with last year. The continued movement in the mix towards lower margin
home and leisure products was largely offset by lower stock markdowns.

E-commerce sales in the period at Argos Retail Group (defined as those made
over the internet and through interactive TV) were £32m. jungle.com's
e-commerce sales doubled to £10m, while those in Argos and Home Shopping grew
five-fold.





Experian

% change in sales year on year for the three months to 31 December 2000
                                               Total               Underlying *
Global Experian                                       +5%                   +4%
Experian North America                                +4%                   -2%
Experian UK                                          +14%                  +14%
Experian Rest of World **                             -6%                  +14%

* Underlying sales growth excludes acquisitions and divestments and is at
constant exchange rates.

** The French facilities management business was sold in July 2000.

Sales for Experian in total continued to show 4% underlying growth.

Experian UK and Rest of World both traded strongly, with sales up by 14% on an
underlying basis.

In North America, sales were up 4% over the same period last year. At constant
exchange rates and excluding the two businesses put into joint ventures last
year, underlying sales were down 2%. Excluding the rationalisation of
non-strategic product lines, underlying sales were unchanged in the period. In
recent weeks, Experian has seen reduced activity as clients react to the
slowing US economy.

Reality

Reality had a successful third quarter, its busiest period of the year, with
service levels in logistics showing a marked improvement.

It is currently engaged in discussions with a significant number of
prospective clients across all its activities and some have recently commenced
parcel delivery trials with Reality.

Burberry

In the third quarter, sales increased 35% at constant exchange rates over the
same period last year. This excludes Burberry Spain, which was acquired in
June 2000. Burberry Retail operations achieved strong like-for-like growth,
with the new flagship store in New Bond Street performing ahead of
expectations. The Wholesale order books for Spring 2001 show continued growth.

South African Retailing

In rand, merchandise sales in South African Retailing were 5% up in the third
quarter, a significant improvement over the first half when sales were 16%
lower.

Future Announcements

GUS will announce its preliminary results on 5 June 2001. The next detailed
comment on current trading will be the Second Half Trading Update in the
middle of April.



Enquiries:
GUS      David Tyler       Finance Director          Tel: [phone]
         Fay Dodds         Investor Relations

Finsbury Rupert Younger                              Tel: [phone]
         Rollo Head


The announcement is also available on the GUS web site: www.gusplc.co.uk