Currys defies High Street gloom as it cashes in on summer sizzler

By the Editorial Team · Friday, September 11, 2026

Currys reported a 6 percent increase in UK and Ireland sales and a 9 percent rise in Nordic sales during the summer, driven by strong demand for large-screen TVs and cooling appliances amid the World Cup and heatwaves. Despite economic pressures, the retailer maintained stable margins, gained market share, and kept its full-year profit forecast steady, awaiting the outcome of the crucial Christmas trading period.

Currys, Britain’s largest electrical retailer, reported a notable rise in summer sales as consumer demand surged for large-screen televisions and cooling appliances amid the World Cup and recent heatwaves. The company’s like-for-like sales in the UK and Ireland increased by 6 percent in the 17 weeks ending in late August, while its Nordics operations saw a 9 percent growth, driven by gains across multiple channels, including business-to-business.

Despite ongoing challenges such as high fuel prices and inflation contributing to reduced shopper confidence, Currys has demonstrated resilience against a broader retail downturn. The company said it gained market share in most major categories and countries within its operating regions, maintaining stable gross margins and exercising tight cost control.

The summer sales boost was particularly pronounced in the TV segment, where purchases of screens measuring 90 inches or larger more than tripled during the period, attributed largely to the World Cup. Additionally, the retailer experienced a surge in sales of air-conditioning units and fans amid the warmer weather. Recurring services with higher margins also continued to perform well, with the group’s ID Mobile network expanding its subscriber base by 16 percent year-on-year to 2.7 million users. Meanwhile, take-up of Currys’ “flexpay” credit scheme increased.

Fredrik Tonnessen, who took over as chief executive in early August, expressed confidence about the company’s prospects for the remainder of the year, highlighting momentum across both physical stores and online platforms. “Currys has maintained its strong momentum,” he said, with growth seen across the UK and Nordic markets despite a generally flat retail environment.

In May, Currys raised its full-year profit guidance slightly, from an initial range of £180 million to £190 million pre-tax adjusted profit to £191 million. However, the company kept this forecast unchanged following the summer period, indicating comfort with existing market expectations and opting to wait for the results of the critical Christmas trading season before making further updates.

Despite the positive sales data, the company’s shares fell approximately 2.4 percent to around 148 pence, reflecting investor caution amid the unchanged profit outlook. The stock has nonetheless gained about 10 percent over the past year, underscoring sustained investor confidence in Currys’ longer-term performance.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.