July 18 (Reuters) - British homewares retailer Dunelm

Group ( DNEMF ) forecast its annual profit to be slightly higher

than market consensus on Thursday, helped by an increase in

volumes as customers spent on new furnishings to spruce up their

homes.

Profit before tax for the year ended June 29 will likely be

slightly ahead of analysts expectations of 200 million pounds

($260.14 million), according to a company compiled consensus.

($1 = 0.7688 pounds)