Charity shops enjoyed a steady year, according to the preliminary findings of the Charity Finance Charity Shops Survey 2007. Income rose by 5.4 per cent to £511.6m, and although costs increased by 5.9 per cent, total profits were up 3.5 per cent to £101.4m. Profit per shop per week rose slightly from £345 to £349.

Oxfam has retained its place at the top of the league table despite a 20 per cent fall in profit to just over £20m. The survey, sponsored by BDO Stoy Hayward, and in association with Professional Fundraising, is in its sixteenth year, and covers the latest results from 76 charity shops chains, with a total of 5,656 shops.

Survey author Gareth Jones said: "The indications are that charity shops have had a steady but unspectacular year. Staff costs, volunteer numbers and rent remain as key issues, while the increasing cost of waste removal also features high as a concern for shop managers. But as ever there are some good examples of how the forward-thinking chains are using innovation to drive future profitability."