An improved performance at Comet stores in the UK slowed a decline in sales at Kesa, Europe’s third-largest electricals retailer, which saw continued revenue drops in its continental outlets.

Sales at Comet, which has 250 stores in the UK, increased by 0.3 per cent on a like-for-like basis and by 1.9 per cent in total in the three months to the end of July. The performance was better expected and beat the broader electrical retail sector.