The chief executive, Simon Wolfson, said it had been a long time since the group started a financial year on such a positive note after announcing strong sales and growth results for the year to January.
"The consumer environment looks more benign than it has for a number of years, albeit there are some significant uncertainties," he said. "It feels like we are now entering a new era." The headwinds from cost inflation, rents, business rates, the shift from stores to online, the Covid pandemic and the cost of living squeeze were easing, Wolfson added.
However, the Next boss said he "wouldn't want to come across as ebullient" or full of "wild optimism" amid a potential rise in unemployment and geopolitical uncertainty.
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