Trading Statement

Next PLC
8 January 2002


Date:               Embargoed until 07.00am, Tuesday 8 January 2002


Contacts:            Simon Wolfson, Chief Executive
                     David Jones, Deputy Chairman
                     Next plc
                     Tel:              0116 286 6411



                     Alistair Mackinnon-Musson
                     Philip Dennis
                     Hudson Sandler
                     Tel:              020 7796 4133
                     Email:            [e-mail]




                                N E X T   P L C

                     TRADING STATEMENT AUTUMN WINTER 2001


The sales performance of the NEXT Brand for the 23 weeks from Sunday 29th July
to Saturday 5th January 2002 was as follows:



NEXT Retail: Total sales were 22% higher than last year.  Like-for-like sales
in the 251 stores which have been trading continuously for at least one year
were 9% ahead.



NEXT Directory:   Sales were 20% higher than last year.



NEXT Brand:      Sales for Retail and Directory combined were 21% higher than
                 last year.



NEXT intends to announce its Preliminary Results for the Year to January 2002
on Thursday 21st March.



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