Electrical retailer Dixons reported flat trading figures after experiencing a decline in the markets for mobile phone and personal computers.

Like-for-like sales in the 28 weeks to November 10 were 0.8 per cent lower, while the figure for the Christmas and New Year trading period was down 0.6 per cent.

But the group said it would be creating 1,400 jobs this year, about 450 of which would be in the Midlands and south east regions.

Dixons said that, ignoring the decline in demand for mobile phones and computers, its performance would have been almost six per cent higher as customers snapped up hi-tech products, including wide-screen TVs, DVD players, and games consoles.

Dixons chairman Sir Stanley Kalms said: "The group produced another solid set of results, despite the significant decline in both the mobile phone and PC markets.

"New technology is expected to be one of the strongest areas of consumer expenditure."

Dixons, which owns Currys, PC World and The Link, saw underlying pre-tax profits for the six month period slip to £87.4m from £90.8m last year.

Arcadia, which owns Top Shop and Dorothy Perkins, reported a jump in sales in the run up to Christmas.

Like-for-like sales at its shops, which also include Burton, Evans, Wallis and Miss Selfridge, rose 9.4 per cent for the 19 weeks to January 5.