CLOTHES retailer Gap yesterday failed to arrest its slumping sales after conceding that its autumn clothing ranges were unpopular with shoppers.

US-based Gap revealed that like-for-like sales at its 250 international stores, more than half of which are in the UK, fell ten per cent between August and October, mirroring a similar decline at the same stage of last year.

Net sales at Gap's international portfolio totalled $324m (£189m) in the three months to October 29 - down from $340m (£198.3m) a year earlier.

The retailer said earnings of $212m (£123.5m) were lower than the $265m (£154.4m) banked at the same stage of last year.