The 126 year old UK retailer has managed to post a rise in holiday sales for the first time in 2 years.
Unfortunately for the clothing and food giant's shareholders, the meager 0.8 percent growth for the 13 weeks to December 26 may be a high point for outgoing chairman Sir Stuart Rose who is due to give way to Marc Bolland some time in 2010.
The retail giant believes the UK consumer is facing a very uncertain year and predicts after the next election its customers will face "tough medicine" as the next government raises taxes and cuts spending to bring the budget deficit under control.