The stronger-than-expected trading update from Mr Price this week surprised the market, which has become accustomed to pedestrian performance at best from apparel retailers over the past few months. Mr Price's update was all the more pronounced given that at the beginning of the month, Truworths's trading update pointed to a decline in sales compared with the same period a year ago, and TFG posted flat half-year earnings. The comeback of the one-time darling of value fashion triggered the question as to whether this is a sign of better things to come, or if it is company-specific. The group expects headline earnings a share to jump 20% to 25% for the 26 weeks ending September this year, but analysts point out this comes off a low base. The company's share price shed 20% last year on poor performance and concerns around procurement, the quality of its merchandise, and pricing. Truworths, meanwhile, had said its sales were 3% lower for the 17 weeks ending October than for the same per...
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