Gerry Harvey has been encouraged by renewed positivity in retail sales at Harvey Norman. Picture: Stephen Cooper Source: Herald Sun GERRY Harvey is banking on a little divine intervention to keep cashed-up shoppers flooding into his stores. The co-founder and chairman of Harvey Norman is confident the heavens will deliver, as signs emerge that consumer confidence is finally on the rise. Harvey Norman reported a 4.1 per cent jump in overall Australian sales in January, with global sales up 3.8 per cent. Asked how he plans to sustain the sales growth, Mr Harvey said: "Pray. It might have more effect than anything else. The rise in sales last month followed six months of weak sales and falling property values. In the six months to December, Harvey Norman's net profit tumbled 36.5 per cent compared with the same period a year earlier, to $81.9 million. Despite the profit fall, Harvey Norman shares surged 9.2 per cent yesterday to $2.49 as its chairman spoke of the more positive outlook. Excluding the effect of new stores and store closures, Harvey Norman's sales in the first half dropped by 5.3 per cent. Mr Harvey couldn't pinpoint why there had been such a turnaround in overall sales in the new year, but said he was encouraged by the renewed positivity. "Consumer confidence levels have risen recently and, because of that, you've now got weekly sales in January and February exceeding last year," he said. For the first time, we've got sale increases for such a long time. It's encouraging that you've just gone (up) two months in a row. Less encouraging was Harvey Norman's electronics and technology categories, which the company said were "challenged" by deflationary headwinds that had affected margins.