Trading Update

Great Universal Stores PLC
11 April 2001

                                                                 11 April 2001



                      THE GREAT UNIVERSAL STORES P.L.C.

                          SECOND HALF TRADING UPDATE



The Great Universal Stores P.L.C. (GUS), 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 during the second half of the year. Argos,
Burberry and Experian International (UK and Rest of World) all delivered
strong performances. Although the outlook for the US economy remains
uncertain, sales at Experian North America have grown in the second half after
a better fourth quarter.'



Argos Retail Group

% change in sales year on year for the six months to 31 March 2001

                                                 Six months *
Argos     - total
                                                     9
          - like-for-like                            6
UK Home Shopping                                     -5

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

In the second half, sales at Argos, including Argos Additions and jungle.com,
increased by 15% over the same period last year. Excluding Additions and
jungle, Argos' sales grew by 9%, or by 6% on a like-for-like basis. Sales were
particularly strong in mobile phones, furniture and jewellery. Gross margins
remained firm, reflecting better buying and an improved mix. Argos Direct, the
delivery to home operation, performed well, accounting for 11% of sales in the
second half compared to 9% in the same period last year.

Sales at UK Home Shopping for the six-month period were 5% lower than last
year, which was in line with plan. Sales per customer continued to increase as
the business reduced its recruitment expenditure and focused on its most
profitable customers. Gross margins were maintained, with reduced markdowns
offsetting the trend towards lower margin home and leisure sales.

Recent initiatives at Argos Retail Group are progressing well:

  * Since national rollout in January, Argos Additions has met all
    expectations.
  * The expansion of Financial Services is continuing. For example, there
    are now more than 150,000 Argos store card customers, following the
    national launch eleven weeks ago.
  * e-commerce sales were over £50m in the second half. jungle.com's on-line
    sales grew by over 40% to £16m and there was a four-fold increase in
    on-line sales from the rest of Argos Retail Group.

Experian

% change in sales year on year for the six months to 31 March 2001
                                                          Six months
                                                          Total Underlying*
Global Experian                                              10    7
Experian North America                                       12    4
Experian UK                                                  14    14
Experian Rest of World**                                      -6    10

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

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

Experian's worldwide sales for the second half showed a 7% underlying
increase, following 4% growth reported in the first six months.

Experian International continued to deliver double-digit sales growth during
the second half in both the UK and Rest of World. Sales in these regions were
up by 14% and 10% respectively on an underlying basis, with gains in all major
product areas.

The performance of Experian North America improved in the fourth quarter, so
that sales on an underlying basis for the second half were up 4% on the same
period last year. This growth is at constant exchange rates and excludes the
two businesses previously put into joint ventures. Sales were helped by
stronger market demand for certain products, such as credit reports for
mortgage refinancing, and by growing revenue streams from new products, such
as the automotive database and direct-to-consumer credit reports.

The Information Solutions division, which accounts for nearly 60% of Experian
North America's turnover, achieved a 2% underlying sales improvement in the
second half. Within this, volume growth in consumer credit profiles,
accounting for nearly a quarter of North American sales, was 10%, with price
deflation of 13%. Underlying sales growth in the Marketing Solutions division
was 6%.

Looking forward, it is clearly not possible to be certain of the impact on
Experian North America of a slowing US economy.

The US management team has been strengthened by the appointment of Don Robert
as President of Information Solutions. Don joins Experian this month from The
First American Corporation, where he was President of the Consumer Information
and Services Group.



Reality

In the second half of the year, Reality signed a further nine third party
contracts with annualised sales of £8m and a total contract value of £11m. For
the year to 31 March 2001, external sales by Reality will exceed £90m, which
is an increase of about 20% over last year.





Burberry

% change in sales year on year for the six months to 31 March 2001
                                                          Six months
Total (excluding Spain)
                                                           +45
Underlying (excluding Spain)*                              +41

* Underlying sales growth excludes Burberry Spain, which was acquired in June
2000, and is at constant exchange rates.

In the second half, sales at Burberry increased by 41% over the same period
last year, at constant exchange rates and excluding Burberry Spain, with
Wholesale and Retail operations both seeing significant growth. Wholesale
shipments in the fourth quarter reflected particularly strong demand for the
Spring/Summer 2001 ranges. Retail also posted strong increases, taking into
account the more demanding comparatives in the final quarter of the previous
year.

Wholesale orders received to date for the Autumn/Winter 2001 ranges indicate
further growth.

Sales at Burberry Spain increased in line with expectations.



South African Retailing

In rand, sales in South African Retailing were up 6% in the second half. This
was a significant improvement over the first half when sales were 16% down on
last year.



Disposals

Further disposals were made during the second half of the year as part of the
Group's strategy to focus on fewer businesses. At the end of March, GUS
completed the sale of Universal Versand, the Austrian home shopping business.
GUS also sold K.C. Finance in the Channel Islands, part of General Guarantee
Finance, for £54m. The property joint venture with British Land has agreed to
sell a portfolio of 81 high street shops for a minimum of £113m, with the
proceeds due in early June.



Future Announcements

GUS will announce its preliminary results on 5 June 2001. The First Quarter
Trading Update will be at the AGM on 25 July 2001.



Enquiries:

GUS

David Tyler Finance Director

Fay Dodds Investor Relations

Tel: [phone]



Finsbury

Rupert Younger

Rollo Head

Tel: [phone]



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