Retail Sales Up 16%

NEXT PLC
19 October 1999

   
Contact:  David Jones, Chief Executive
          David Keens, Finance Director
          Next plc
          Tel:  [phone]
   
          Alistair Mackinnon-Musson
          Philip Dennis
          Square Mile Communications
          Tel:  [phone]
   
                                 
                          TRADING UPDATE
   
   On 15 September 1999 NEXT plc announced its results for the six
   months  to  July  and details of its sales performance  in  the
   first six weeks of the Autumn/Winter season.
   
   Over  the  coming  weeks  the  company  will  be  meeting  with
   shareholding  institutions  and  the  directors   consider   it
   appropriate  to  issue  today a further  statement  on  current
   trading.
   
   In the first eleven weeks of the Autumn/Winter season, sales in
   NEXT  Retail  are 16% ahead of the previous year  from  trading
   space which is 11% higher. Sales in NEXT Directory are 5% ahead
   of last year.
   
   Taken together, sales for the NEXT Brand are 13% ahead of  last
   year, slightly ahead of the sales growth reported for the first
   six weeks of the season.