RETAILER Halfords has seen strong demand for motoring maintenance and servicing boost sales, but said retail trading was held back by unsettled summer weather and falling consumer confidence.
The car parts to bikes firm said "needs-based" products and services were the main driver behind a 14.1 per cent rise in total revenues over the five months to August 18, with sales up 7.8 per cent on a like-for-like basis.
Like-for-like sales soared 16.6 per cent across its autocentres chain, while retail sales rose 3.4 per cent.
Spending on discretionary ranges was more lacklustre so far in its second quarter, with cycling, car cleaning and touring products hit by "unfavourable weather and low consumer confidence".
Bike sales fell 2.7 per cent on a comparable basis, the group said.
Halfords said it was on track with full-year expectations, forecasting pre-tax profits of between £48 million and £58 million.
It said in June that profits are expected to grow in the year to June 2024, although the lower end of the guided range would see a drop on the £51.5 million reported for 2022-23.
But Halfords said most analysts were forecasting £53.7 million for the current year.
Shares in the firm lifted 3 per cent in morning trading on Wednesday.
It is expecting first half profits to be weighed down by higher costs, with efforts to make savings set to bear fruit in the second half.
This is set to help second half profits come in "significantly ahead of last year, with autocentres making up a higher proportion of group pre-tax profits, alongside increased cost and efficiency savings versus 2022-23", according to the company.
Chief executive Graham Stapleton said: "It's been a good start to the year for Halfords, and our ongoing focus on essential maintenance and servicing is driving a strong performance in our autocentre and retail motoring business.
"Group motoring, which now accounts for over 75 per cent of our total sales, is a resilient sector and we're progressing with our long-term plans to become a one-stop shop for motoring ownership."
He added: "We're continuing to do everything that we can to support our customers through the cost-of-living crisis and are determined to offer them unrivalled value."
