Furniture and clothing retailer Laura Ashley said despite the challenging economic environment, the board remains cautiously optimistic for the current year as sales in the first 17 weeks to May 30 rose.Like-for-like sales improved by 6.9% compared to the same period last year despite the economic uncertainty impacting consumer confidence and spending patterns.Total UK retail sales increased by 8.4% due mainly to the continuing targeted promotional activity during the period and increase in the group's retail selling space."In line with expectations that the general economy will continue to be challenging and unpredictable, we have taken our store portfolio realignment programme at a more considered pace with one new store opened in the UK and 3 in France during this period," said the group.The group said its E-Commerce and Mail Order sales grew by 110% mainly driven by the growth in E-Commerce sales of 41.6% set off by a decline in Mail Order sales by 24.2%.