Trading Statement

Next PLC
03 October 2002



Date:               For immediate release: Thursday 3rd October 2002


Contacts:            Simon Wolfson, Chief Executive
                     David Keens, Group Finance Director
                     NEXT PLC
                     Tel:              0116 286 6411

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



                                    NEXT PLC

                           CURRENT TRADING STATEMENT


NEXT will be sending a circular to its shareholders during the week commencing 7
October 2002 relating to the capital reconstruction announced on 12 September
2002.  At the same time NEXT Group Plc, the proposed new holding company of
NEXT, will be publishing Listing Particulars relating to its application for
admission to the Official List.  The capital reconstruction will give the group
additional flexibility to make further repurchases of shares when it is earnings
enhancing and in the interests of shareholders generally.


The UK Listing Authority requires that Listing Particulars include a statement
on current trading.  That statement will be as follows:

'In the period 28 July to 2 October 2002 sales in NEXT Retail are 9.9% ahead of
last year. Like-for-like sales in the 274 stores that have traded continuously
for at least one year are up 1.0%.  Sales in NEXT Directory for the same period
are 19.9% ahead of last year. Taken together, sales for the NEXT Brand are 12.2%
ahead of last year.

However, as we mentioned in our interim statement, stock for the end of season
Sale was higher than last year and this boosted the NEXT Retail sales figures in
the first two weeks of August.  Excluding those two weeks, NEXT Retail sales
from 11 August to 2 October 2002 are 5.6% ahead of last year and like-for-like
sales are -3.1% down on last year.'


                                    - Ends -


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange