Trading Statement

Next PLC
08 January 2003


Date:               Embargoed until 07.00am, Wednesday 8th January 2003

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

                                TRADING STATEMENT

Sales in NEXT Retail for the 23 week period from Sunday 28th July 2002 to
Saturday 4th January 2003 were 12.4% ahead of last year.  Like-for-like sales in
the 292 stores that have been trading continuously for a least one year were
1.7% up on last year.  Sales in NEXT Directory were 22.3% ahead  of last year.
Taken together, sales for the NEXT Brand were 14.3% ahead of last year.

Stocks for the end of season Sales at the beginning of August and after
Christmas were significantly up on last year and this boosted the total sales in
NEXT Retail.  Taking the period Monday 12th August to Tuesday 24th December
(which excludes the summer and winter Sales) full price sales in NEXT Retail
were 9.5% up on the comparable period last year, with like-for-like sales -0.8%
down on last year.  Full price sales for NEXT Retail and NEXT Directory combined
were 11.8% ahead in the same period.

We expect to make our preliminary announcement of results for the 53 weeks to
1st February 2003 on Thursday 27th March 2003.  We are currently forecasting
that profit before tax will be in the region of £293m to £303m.  This compares
with £265.8m last year and published market estimates which we believe average
£293m.

                                    - ends -


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