* 12 weeks to Oct. 24 total sales up 10.3 percent
* UK/Ireland like-for-like sales up 5.6 percent
* Overall UK gross profit margin down 60 basis points
* Rest of Europe like-for-like sales down 8.2 percent
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LONDON, Oct 28 (Reuters) - Carpetright, Britain's biggest retailer of floor coverings, said first-half profit would beat market expectations as it posted a second straight quarter of rising sales following a year of falls.
"We expect to deliver a half-year profit performance ahead of expectations and, whilst we remain cautious about the retail market in the balance of the financial year, we have made a solid start," said Chairman and Chief Executive Philip Harris.
The firm said total sales increased 10.3 percent in the 12 weeks to Oct. 24.
Sales at stores in the UK and Ireland open more than a year increased 5.6 percent, accelerating from a rise of 1.4 percent in the first quarter.
Carpetright benefited from weak comparative numbers in the same period last year, from the collapse of its main rival Allied Carpets earlier this year, and from new business from insurance companies and house builders.
The retailer said the underlying margin on its carpet business remained in line with last year, but a greater proportion of bed sales resulted in a fall of about 60 basis points in its overall UK gross profit percentage.
Second-quarter like-for-like sales in the Rest of Europe division fell 8.2 percent. (Reporting by James Davey, editing by Will Waterman) ($1=.6091 Pound)