J D Wetherspoon plc reported sales results for the first quarter ended October 25, 2015. For the period, sales increased by 2.4% and total sales increased by 6.1%. Sales have been slightly higher in the last 6 weeks, which has coincided with the Rugby World Cup. The operating margin was 6.2%, compared with 7.7% in the same 13 weeks last year. The lower margin was due to increases in the starting rates for hourly paid staff in October 2014 and August 2015, which totaled approximately 13%.

For the current financial year 2016, the company remains in a sound financial position. Net debt at the end of this financial year is currently expected to be slightly above the July 26, 2015 total of £601.1 million.