Next lifts profit forecast as Christmas sales rise This would represent a 7.1pc to 9.6pc rise in profits in 2012 from the previous year. In a trading statement on Thursday Next said total sales, excluding VAT sales tax, rose 3.9pc between November 1 and December 24. That compares with an increase of 2.7pc in its third quarter, giving a year to date rise of 3.9pc. Next Directory performed particularly well, with sales up 11.2pc compared to the same period the year before, while Next Retail, which is made up of more than 500 stores in the UK and Ireland, was up 0.8pc. Looking to 2013, Next said it was "unlikely there will be any dramatic change in the consumer environment in the year ahead." For the 2013-14 year the firm guided to sales growth of 1.5-4.pc, with profit up in line with sales and a further £250m of share buy backs. "Healthy employment numbers mean that there is little risk of a significant downturn," Next said. However, the continued growth in price inflation ahead of wage inflation means that real wages will continue to fall, albeit at a slower rate than last year. On balance, we expect the consumer environment to remain subdued but steady. With Britain facing the prospect of a triple-dip recession, many retailers have been finding the going tough as consumers fret over job security and a squeeze on incomes. Next has defied the gloom and shares in retailer rose 38pc last year. The shares rose 1.7pc to 3,772 pence in London trading yesterday Yesterday John Lewis kicked off a busy reporting period for retailers as they reveal how successful the key Christmas period was. The department store chain, which has 39 shops, reported a sharp rise in like-for-like sales, up 13pc in the five weeks to December 29 compared to the same period last year. However, despite strong numbers from John Lewis and Next, coming statements from other retailers are likely to reveal mixed trading. Shares in J Sainsbury and Wm Morrison fell as the market prepared for the supermarket groups to report disappointing Christmas sales. Analyst at Jefferies and Espirito Santo predicted Morrisons could have suffered a decline in like-for-like sales of more than 2.5pc.