THE owner of the Dixons and Currys electrical chains said trading remained in the doldrums today as it prepared for the key Christmas season.

DSG International - the new name for the Dixons retail group - said conditions in the UK were still "difficult" as sales fell by 2% at Dixons and by 3% at Currys in the 28 weeks to November 12.

DSG-owned PC World showed an 8% drop in same-store sales, while mobile phone seller The Link logged a massive 28% decline.