J D Wetherspoon plc reported interim management statement for the third quarter and nine months ended April 27, 2014. For the 13 weeks to April 27, 2014, like-for-like sales increased by 6.2%, and total sales increased by 10.9%.

In the year to date, like-for-like sales increased by 5.6%, and total sales increased by 9.7%. Sales were good through February and March, but like-for-like growth decreased in April - and Easter was below last year.

As a result of the slowdown in sales growth in recent weeks and strong performance in the final quarter of last year, combined with the slightly unpredictable impact of the World Cup, the company retains an element of caution about the exact outcome for the final quarter, but anticipate a reasonable outcome for the year as a whole.