The general merchandise arm posted a 1.5% fall in like-for-like sales for the 13 weeks to June 28 – making it three straight years of quarterly declines for the division – while food grew like-for-like sales by 1.7%.
The group’s total revenues for the period grew 2.3%, though the business said sales were hampered by teething problems after the introduction of a new website earlier this year.
Chief executive Mr Bolland said: “We have seen a continued improvement in clothing, although as anticipated the settling in of the new M&S.com site has had an impact on sales.”
The figures were announced hours before Mr Bolland and the rest of the board are due to face concerned shareholders at M&S’s AGM at Wembley Stadium.
The business said its online sales were 8.1% lower due to the problems customers have experienced