Primark revenues are expected to increase 10% year over year at constant currency for 1H17 and reported sales are expected to increase 22% year over year. The company increased selling space by 12% year over year in 1H17. Total comparable store sales were flat, but excluding a decline in the Netherlands, due to rapid growth in selling space, comparable store sales increased 1% year over year. New stores opened in 1H17 showed strong trends and the US business continued to develop. UK comparable store sales increased 2% year over year in 1H17 and market share expanded. Primark opened 16 new stores in 1H17 for a total of 329 stores, representing 13.1 million square feet of selling space. The company continues to grow in the US market, opening a sixth US store in 1H17. Primark plans to add 0.5 million square feet of additional selling space in 2H17, including a seventh store in the US. The company forecasts that its operating profit margin in 1H17 will decline, reflecting increased input costs due to US dollar strength. The company has foreign exchange hedging contracts in place for the majority of remaining purchases for FY17, and its expectation for FY17 operating profit margin to decline is unchanged. The company will report detailed 1H17 earnings results for the six months ending March 4, 2017 on April 19, 2017.