Video: Marks & Spencer versus Tesco The 130-year-old company said that like-for-like general merchandise sales, which is primarily clothing, dropped by 2.1pc in the 13 weeks to December 28, which was worse than expected by the City. The figures were released alongside disappointing Christmas trading from Tesco and Morrisons. Tesco, the world's third biggest retailer, said UK Christmas sales fell 2.4pc like-for-like and in an unscheduled update, Morrisons warned full-year profits will be toward the bottom of expectations after like-for-like sales dropped 5.6pc. Shares in M&S, Tesco and Morrisons fell 1.1pc, 3.5pc and 6.8pc respectively as the market opened on Thursday. However, Marks shares rose on relief that there was no profits warning. Although clothing sales fell for the 10th consecutive quarter, M&S reported a 1.6pc increase in like-for-like food sales, which is far better than the figures reported by Britain's leading supermarkets. Mr Bolland also said that M&S had enjoyed an "improved performance" in the final weeks before Christmas. In the 8 weeks to December 24, the company's general merchandise sales rose 0.5pc on a like-for-like basis and 1.5pc overall. The results from M&S come after Debenhams boss Michael Sharp said last week that the high street was a "sea of red" in December as fashion retailers cut prices and ran promotions. The department store chain was forced to issue a profits warning because the discounting hit profit margins, while baby retailer Mothercare has also warned on that profits will now be lower than expected this year after a disappointing Christmas. Mr Bolland said: "We delivered an improved performance in general merchandise over the important Christmas period, with sales up 1.5pc in a highly promotional market. However, an exceptionally unseasonal October, which saw GM sales down strongly, has resulted in a quarterly performance below our expectations. Our food business had an excellent quarter, with 4.1pc growth and record sales over the Christmas period, including our biggest day ever in food of £64m on December 23. Overall in the quarter, M&S's group sales rose 1.8pc. This included a 0.2pc drop in UK like-for-like sales, but online sales were up 22.7pc and overseas sales 4.5pc.