Trading Statement

Next PLC
04 January 2006


Date:           Embargoed until 07.00am, Wednesday 4 January 2006

Contacts:       Simon Wolfson, Chief Executive
                David Keens, Group Finance Director
                NEXT PLC
                Tel:  [phone]

                Alistair Mackinnon-Musson
                Philip Dennis
                Hudson Sandler
                Tel:      [phone]
                Email:  [e-mail]

                Photographs available:  http://www.next.co.uk/press/



                                   NEXT PLC

                               TRADING STATEMENT


CURRENT TRADE

The combined sales for NEXT Retail and NEXT Directory for the period from 1
August to 24 December 2005 were up 9.8% compared to the same period last year.

NEXT Retail sales were up 8.7% in the period.  Net sales growth from new space
after deducting deflection was 11.9%.  Like-for-like sales in the 251 stores
that were unaffected by new openings were down -3.2%.

NEXT Directory sales were up 13.7% in the period.


PROFIT FORECAST

In March 2005 we said that we would increase both sales and profit in a
challenging year.  We now expect that our full year profit before tax will be
above market expectations and in the range of £435m to £450m.


OUTLOOK

We remain cautious for the first half of the new year.  Whilst we expect to grow
sales from the addition of new space, we are budgeting for like-for-like sales
to continue to run at approximately -3% over the next six months.

We intend to issue our Preliminary results for the 52 weeks to 28 January 2006
on Thursday 23 March 2006.


                                    - ENDS -


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