Trading Statement

Mothercare PLC
19 October 2006


19 October 2006

                                 MOTHERCARE PLC
                            PRE CLOSE TRADING UPDATE

Mothercare Plc today issued the following update on trading. The statement is
being made in respect of Mothercare's half year ended 14 October 2006. All
figures in this statement are comparable with the same weeks in the prior
period.

Group performance

Group sales for the 28 weeks to 14 October 2006 (first half year) were up 5.3%
and for the 13 weeks to 14 October 2006 (second quarter), were up 4.4%.

UK performance

UK store like for like sales for the first half were up 1.9% and for the second
quarter were up 1.4%.

+-------------------------------+------------------+------------------+
|                               |       13 Weeks to|       28 Weeks to|
|                               |   14 October 2006|   14 October 2006|
+-------------------------------+------------------+------------------+
|Total UK sales %               |             +0.6%|             +1.7%|
+-------------------------------+------------------+------------------+
|UK stores sales %              |             +0.2%|             +1.2%|
+-------------------------------+------------------+------------------+
|UK store sales like for like % |             +1.4%|             +1.9%|
+-------------------------------+------------------+------------------+

The UK business continues to show a positive sales performance, with the Direct
business performing strongly, highlighting the success of our multi channel
strategy.

Our focus on optimising the UK store portfolio through right-sizing and
re-siting has continued. UK store like for like sales growth for the half year
is higher than UK stores sales growth as a result of this activity. UK gross
margins are in line with expectations.

International performance

+-----------------------------+------------------+------------------+
|                             |       13 Weeks to|       28 Weeks to|
|                             |   14 October 2006|   14 October 2006|
+-----------------------------+------------------+------------------+
|Total International sales    |            +27.1%|            +28.0%|
+-----------------------------+------------------+------------------+

We continue to grow our International business rapidly. We have opened 34 stores
in the current year, including the opening today of our fourteenth store in
Russia, which takes our total number of overseas franchise stores to 300. We
remain on track to open at least 50 international stores in the year.

Ben Gordon, Chief Executive said:

'Our multi-channel UK business has performed well in what remains a difficult
trading environment. We continue to expand our brand globally with the opening
of a further 34 stores overseas, including our first eight in India. We are
pleased to have reached a milestone of 300 international stores with the opening
today of our fourteenth store in Russia.'

The full financial performance for the first half of the year (28 weeks to 14
October 2006) will be reported when Mothercare's Interim Results are announced
on 16 November 2006.


Enquiries to:

Mothercare plc
Ben Gordon, Chief Executive                     01923 206001
Neil Harrington, Finance Director               01923 206187

Brunswick Group LLP
Susan Gilchrist/Catherine Hicks                 020 7404 5959




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