Retailers hope for sweet Easter

THE City will be watching anxiously for signs of a spending slowdown as a clutch of consumer firms report results this week. First indications show sales of DIY goods over the crucial Easter holiday period were rosy.

At Focus Wickes, the private DIY giant run by multi-millionaire Bill Archer, sales in the week to Easter Sunday surged 6% on last year, not including the effect of new shop space. Signs are that sales rose by at least 5% yesterday. Focus commercial director David Pearson said: 'It was mainly because sales of

garden furniture, plants and barbecues did well, helped by the good weather.'

On Thursday Beefeater gin owner Allied Domecq reports first-half figures, expected to be about £255m. The group warned in February that profits growth will be wiped out this year due to currency movements.

Pubs group Punch, due to release first-half results tomorrow, said its community boozers are more resilient to the general belt-tightening that has hit

dozens of High Street bar operators. Analysts expect profits of about £52m.

Furniture retailer DFS, beset by rumours earlier this year of some weak trading, is still expected to lift half-year profits to £27m from £25.7m on Thursday, helped by new store openings.

Warning lights have been flashing at Sir Martin Sorrell's advertising group WPP over fears of a spending cut by its biggest client Ford. Sorrell, due to unveil WPP's first- quarter figures on Friday, warns a significant advertising upturn is unlikely before 2004.