Argos has reported today that its like-for-like sales were up 0.1% in the first quarter.

Figures show that total sales grew 2.6% to £868 million, whilst net new space added 2.5% although this was largely due to store openings in the previous financial year.

Sales performance was strong in both electrical and non-electrical categories. Sales growth in the electrical department was due to computers, mobiles and TVs.

Chief executive of Home Retail Group (HRG), John Walden, said: "I am pleased with our performance in the first quarter. Argos delivered good total sales growth together with positive like-for-like growth, representing its strongest sales growth performance in eight quarters. This was achieved against the challenging backdrop of constrained seasonal product sales due to poor weather, on top of a deflationary pricing environment.”

Figures also show that online sales grew 16% in the quarter, representing 49% of Argos’s total sales which is an increase of 44% for the same time the previous year.

Walden added: “Given the natural distraction that a transaction such as this can be for our colleagues, on top of the recent sale of Homebase, I am particularly pleased with our performance in the quarter."