RETAIL group Gus has reported a 13 per cent rise in sales at its Argos catalogue arm in the past half year as shoppers snapped up electricals, furniture and toys.

Gus said it had driven the sales rise through increasing choice, offering low prices and improving convenience, with its Argos Direct delivery-to-home arm.

The figures, which strip out the effect of store openings, and businesses bought or launched recently, were also buoyed by good consumer demand on the high street.

Margins in the Argos business remained firm, it said.

At its Burberry luxury goods business, which has shed its dowdy image after being sported by celebrities including Kate Moss and Madonna, underlying sales rose five per cent.