John Browett, the new chief executive of DSG International, is doing all the right things. The cost cutting programme he announced in May is on target at £50 million, with a further £25 million to go before the end of the year.

The company's PC World and Currys stores, which often look dishevelled, are undergoing a facelift. Staff are getting lessons on much-needed improvments to customer service. But it is too soon to see any benefit from this in the electrical retailer's sales figures, which were down 7 per cent like-for-like in the four months to August 23.

Trading should pick up as we near Christmas. But the country is moving into a recession and sales are unlikely to improve substantially. It is going to take more than a high street facelift to turn this situation around. Mr Browett is fighting an uphill battle.

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