Harvey Norman Q4 sales improve, up 3 pct

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australian electrical goods and furniture retailer Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (HVN.AX) said on Tuesday same-store sales for the three months to June 30 rose 3 percent, beating forecasts despite weak consumer spending.

It was an improvement from same-store sales growth of 2.5 percent in its last reporting period, but was well below growth rates of more than 7 percent seen in preceding quarters.

Analysts at Citigroup had forecast same-store sales up 2.3 percent, Goldman Sachs JBWere forecast a rise of 2.0 percent and ABN AMRO saw a gain of 1.2 percent.

Harvey Norman, which has about 190 stores in Australia, said total sales in the fourth quarter for its stores in Australia, New Zealand, Slovenia and Ireland, were A$1.43 billion ($1.4 billion).

Australian consumer spending has stalled this year as the combined weight of surging petrol prices and rising interest rates has prompted shoppers to rein in big-ticket purchases, but analysts say electronic goods such as computers and games are still selling well.

Harvey Norman, which competes with the Dick Smith unit of Woolworths (WOW.AX) and JB Hi-Fi Ltd (JBH.AX), said like-for-like sales for the year to June 30 rose 4.4 percent.

Harvey Norman is due to report its full-year profit results on Aug. 29.

Its shares last traded up 0.6 percent at A$3.33, reversing losses of over 3 percent before the announcement, against a broader market down 1.5 percent .AXJO.

($1=A$1.05)

(Reporting by Victoria Thieberger)