An expectation the retail environment will get worse before it gets better

Briscoe Group managing director Rod Duke is warning of a tough first-half result in 2025 - as the group's sales reached 245.3 million dollars in the three months to January - up 0.96 percent annually.

Duke says he believes the second half will be better, hopefully driven by initiatives from the government.

He says it will be marked seriously if nothing is seen by the end of March.