Trading Statement

GUS PLC
15 October 2002



15 October 2002


                                    GUS PLC

                           FIRST HALF TRADING UPDATE


GUS plc, the retail and business services group, today issues its regular update
on trading in its main businesses.

John Peace, Group Chief Executive of GUS, said:

'We have made good progress in all our major businesses during the first half of
the year.  We continue to view the outlook for the second half with confidence,
while remaining conscious of the potential impact of global political and
economic uncertainty'.


Experian

% change in sales year on year for the six months to 30 September 2002

                                                          Total        Total at constant exchange
                                                            %                   rates %

    Experian North America                                  4                      10

        Experian UK                                         11                     11
        Experian Rest of World                              8                      7
    Experian International                                  10                     10

Global Experian                                             6                      10

Experian's total worldwide sales for the first half increased by 10% at constant
exchange rates.

In dollars, sales in Experian North America grew by 10% in the first half.  This
included a first time contribution from ConsumerInfo.com, an important
acquisition made in April 2002, as part of Experian's strategy in the
fast-growing direct-to-consumer market. Its sales were $44m in the first half,
increasing by about 75% compared to the same period last year.  This represented
8% of Experian North America's sales in the first half.

Excluding ConsumerInfo.com, sales in Credit Information and Credit Solutions
were well ahead of last year, helped by particularly strong performances in
prescreen and business information.  However, in common with other direct
marketing services companies, sales in Marketing Information, Marketing
Solutions and Outsourcing remained lower year-on-year.  Excluding
ConsumerInfo.com, Experian North America's dollar sales were 1% ahead of the
same period last year.  Had the sales of ConsumerInfo.com been included for the
comparative period last year, dollar sales would have grown by 4%.

Experian North America continues to reduce costs, incurring a £3m restructuring
charge against its operating profit in the first half.  It has also acquired
three of its 38 affiliate credit bureaux, including AQM, one of its five largest
affiliates.  FARES, Experian's chosen way of competing in the real estate
information sector, had another excellent half, benefiting from strong mortgage
refinancing activity.

Experian International, which accounts for nearly 40% of worldwide sales, grew
sales by 10% in the first half.  There was particularly strong growth in Credit
Information (especially from business information) and Credit Solutions
(including account processing, fraud, scoring and risk management).

Experian International has made further small targeted acquisitions during the
period.  It has acquired a leading economic consultancy business in the UK and a
Spanish marketing services company based in Madrid.  Acquisitions, net of
disposals, generated 1% of sales in the first half.


Argos Retail Group

% change in sales year on year for the six months to 30 September 2002

                                                                      %

Argos*  -  total                                                      12
            -  like-for-like                                          7
UK Home Shopping#                                                    (2)

*  These figures exclude Argos Additions and jungle.com.

#  This figure excludes sales from the stationery and printing businesses and
Family Hampers, which have all been sold.

Excluding Argos Additions and jungle.com, sales at Argos in the first half
increased by 12% in total over the same period last year.  Argos continues to
outperform in its market.

Like-for-like sales grew by 7%, benefiting from the launch of the Autumn/Winter
catalogue at the end of July.  This includes an additional 2,500 lines (now
11,400) in areas such as furniture, textiles, bedding and housewares.  New
stores contributed 5% to sales growth, ahead of expectations.  Argos opened its
500th store in August 2002 in Guiseley, Leeds.

Sales were again particularly strong in furniture, electricals and homewares.
Argos Direct, the delivery to home operation, grew by over a third, now
accounting for 20% of sales compared to 16% in the comparable period. Gross
margins at Argos were firm compared to the first half last year.

Sales at UK Home Shopping for the first half were 2% lower than last year,
excluding businesses which have been divested.  Agency sales were down 5% in the
first half.  Growth in direct catalogues, however, continued to be strong, aided
by increased marketing spend behind Abound in particular. Gross margins were in
line with last year.

Argos Retail Group continues to invest in other initiatives across its
businesses:

-      sales at Argos Additions were 4% ahead of the same period last year,
showing some improvement since the launch of the Autumn/Winter catalogue which
enhanced the merchandise and credit offers;

-      there were 540,000 active Argos store card holders at the end of
September 2002, up from 460,000 at March 2002.  The store card now accounts for
around 7% of total Argos sales; and

-      e-commerce sales in the first half were £104m, up by over 50% compared to
the same period last year.


ARG intends to integrate jungle.com further into Argos.  Preliminary estimates
of the one-off cost of this move are in the region of £10m, of which less than
half will be cash.


Burberry

Following the partial IPO of Burberry Group plc (BRBY.L), GUS retains a 77.5%
stake in Burberry.  The following is an abridged version of the latter's Trading
Update released on 14 October 2002.

% change in sales year on year for the six months to 30 September 2002

                                                                       %

Total                                                                 15
Total at constant exchange rates                                      17


Total sales at Burberry in the first half increased by 15%, or by 9% on an
underlying basis (i.e. at constant exchange rates and excluding the impact of
the Asia acquisitions in January and July 2002).

Total Retail sales increased by 32%, or by 17% excluding the Asia acquisitions,
with continued strength in the US market.  Five new stores were opened in the
first half, with eight new and replacement stores planned for the second half,
including flagship stores in New York and London (Knightsbridge).  Burberry
recently announced plans for a store in Milan, its first store in Italy, which
is scheduled to open in late 2003.

Total Wholesale sales increased by 8% in the first half, or by 4% on an
underlying basis reflecting earlier shipments of autumn product.  On the basis
of orders received to date, Burberry anticipates that its aggregate Spring/
Summer 2002/03 wholesale order book will show single digit growth over the prior
year.

Total Licensing revenue in the first half increased by 14% (21% at constant
exchange rates), driven by strong growth in Japanese royalties, reflecting
double-digit volume gains and increases in certain royalty rates.  Burberry
anticipates a reduced rate of volume growth in Japan over the balance of the
financial year.


Future announcements

GUS will announce its interim results on 21 November 2002.  The Third Quarter
Trading Update will be on 14 January 2002.


Enquiries

GUS
David Tyler                  Finance Director               020 7495 0070
Fay Dodds                    IR Director

Finsbury
Rupert Younger                                              020 7251 3801
Rollo Head


GUS announcements are available on its website www.gusplc.com.

There will be a conference call to discuss this update at 3pm today.  A replay
will be available later on the GUS website.

This announcement does not constitute an invitation to underwrite, subscribe for
or otherwise acquire or dispose of any GUS plc or Burberry Group plc shares.
Past performance is not a guide to future performance and persons needing advice
should consult an independent financial adviser.

Certain statements made in this Trading Update are forward looking statements.
Such statements are based on current expectations and are subject to a number of
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from any expected future results in forward looking statements.




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            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange