Buoyant video game sales and the earlier timing of Mother's Day helped catalogue retailer Argos report improved sales figures today.

Like-for-like sales were up 1.9% in the eight weeks to March 1, although sister company Homebase fared less with a decline of 5.3%.

Home Retail Group, which owns Argos and Homebase, said the weaker consumer outlook meant like-for-like sales growth would be harder to come by this year.