Listed retailer Mr Price recorded sales growth of 20.3 percent during the third quarter of the financial year ending 31 March 2009, the company said on Wednesday.

Comparable sales, which includes sales of expanded and relocated stores in like-for-like locations, grew by 15.3 percent.

Inflation for the period was 6.3 percent and cash sales constituted 84.3 percent of total sales, the company said.

A net 21 stores were opened during the quarter bringing the total number of stores to 948.

The Apparel Division (Mr Price, Mr Price Sport and Miladys), which represented 72 percent of sales, achieved sales growth for the quarter of 25.7 percent with comparable sales growth of 21.8 percent.

Weighted average space increased by 6.3 percent and inflation of 5.3 percent was recorded for the quarter.

The Home Division (Mr Price Home and Sheet Street), which represented 28 percent of sales, continued to be affected by the reduced consumer spend on durable and semi-durable products which included homewares, Mr Price said.

Sales growth of 8.2 percent, with comparable sales growth of 1.7 percent, was recorded.

Weighted average space increased by 12.1 percent and inflation of 7.1 percent was recorded for the quarter.

"The debtors' book remained well controlled from both a credit granting and a collections perspective, resulting in bad debt levels in line with that reported for the half year ended 30 September 2008, the company added.

Sapa