With the expansion in its customer base, Rona Inc. reported a 1.5% rise in its fourth-quarter in sales. The company is thus, forecasting better results this year.

"It will be much better than what we were expecting", said Claude Guévin, Rona's Chief Financial Officer, about the current fiscal year.

Rona's fourth-quarter sales reached the $1.14 billion mark, while its profits rose to$30.9 million.

However, its yearly net profit for 2009 dipped by 11.6%.

Guévin told that Rona's same store sales remain positive this month.

"I think this consumer confidence is much more of a driver than the incentive program", he said.

He also said that he doesn't expect much rise in the mortgage interest rates in 2010.