Market Watch: Whitbread | Primark | Sports Direct

CONSUMER spending will be in the spotlight when leisure group Whitbread and retailers Sports Direct and Primark report figures this week.

Whitbread is expected to a strong performance at its Costa coffee chain amid speculation it will be spun off. Costa, which has nearly 1,400 outlets in the UK, has been the top performer in the group’s portfolio which includes hotel chain Premier Inn and Beefeater restaurants. Whitbread is forecast to unveil a 15 per cent rise in underlying pre-tax profits to £314.2 million.

Sports Direct will reveal on Wednesday that its good sales have continued in the first quarter of 2012, leaving executive deputy chairman Mike Ashley on track for a £17m pay-out.

Discounting on the high street and high cotton prices will not stop budget retailer Primark, owned by Associated British Foods, from reporting a rise in profits on Tuesday. Sales for the six months to 3 March were 15 per cent ahead of last year.