Kingfisher, Europe’s largest home improvement retailer, posted an 11.8 percent decline in third quarter profit, hurt by a tough French market and foreign currency movements.

The firm, which trades as B&Q in Ireland and Castorama and Brico Depot in France, said today it made a retail profit of £225 million in the 13 weeks to November 1st.

That compared to analyst’s average forecast of £227 million and was down from £271 million made in the same period last year.

Total sales fell 3.6 per cent to £2.82 billion. The firm said it remained cautious on the outlook, especially in France.