THE slump in house sales has led to a plunge in profits at Carpetright. The group made just £10million in the six months to November, down 28%, as families stopped splashing cash on more expensive, non-essential items. "If your washing machine packs up you have to replace it, there isn't quite the same pressure to change the carpets," said one City analyst. Carpetright opened 17 new stores during the period but closed 19, leaving it with a total of 584. Boss Lord Harris of Peckham said they added Sleepright bedding departments to 48 more stores taking the total to 176.