Electricals group Comet joined the list of under-pressure retailers yesterday after its owner forecast a difficult market for its flagship business.

Kesa Electricals, which also has a string of businesses on the Continent, said the outlook for the UK market appeared challenging, after seeing consumer confidence remain subdued since the turn of the year.

Strong growth was seen in sales of LCD and plasma televisions, while multimedia business benefited from strong demand for laptops and LCD monitors.

US-style fridge-freezers were among other products that were selling well.

Overall, the 250-outlet chain achieved operating profits of £52m, up 9.7 per cent on a year earlier, following a 6.5 per cent rise in turnover to £1.54bn.