Bhs boss blames press for spreading gloom

Sir Philip Green, the billionaire retail entrepreneur, today blamed the press for spreading gloom about conditions on the high street and said he was not in the "doom-mongering camp", despite a 40% slump in profits at his Bhs chain. Bhs suffered a 4% fall in like-for-like sales over the past six weeks, but Green shrugged off suggestions that conditions on the high street were the worst in 30 years. While admitting that the market remained "competitive and unpredictable", Green said: "Current business is not bad at all." Childrenswear and home products were doing well — up 5% and 6% respectively over the past six weeks — while womenswear was "tougher". Sales have been affected by the erratic weather, but last weekend was probably the retailer's best for six months as the weather turned more autumnal, he said. "The press have... [read full story]