Briscoe Group boss Rod Duke says the company is defying economic gravity with its latest rise in first-quarter sales

The owner of Briscoes and Rebel Sport is reporting a one-percent rise in unaudited sales for the 91 days to April 28, compared to the same period last year.

Duke has told Business Desk it's a spectacular result given the conditions and forecasts coming from banks, credit card data and Retail NZ.

He says because of pressure on margins, net profit will be in line with the same period last year, but he expects the market to see that as a very strong result.