Primark sales defy UK high street gloom

Chain is biggest UK clothing retailer by volume and likely to topple Next as No 2 by valuePrimark said it gained market share, increased sales and cut down on discounting over Christmas by focusing on the high street and continuing to keep away from the internet.Sales at the cut-price fashion chain’s established UK stores rose 3% over the Christmas period, according to analysts’ estimates, and slipped less than 2% in the four months to 5 January, despite a dismal period for many clot