Sales rise at Sainsbury's but less than predicted

Total sales rose 8.1 per cent in the 12 weeks to June 14, boosted by the sharp increase in petrol prices. Excluding fuel, the increase was 4.5 per cent.

 Underlying sales at J Sainsbury rose
3.4 per cent in the first quarter of its financial year, but the
group warned that most of the increase was due to inflation rather
than volume growth.

In the fourth quarter of last year,
the supermarket giant posted a 4.1 per cent hike in like for like
sales without fuel, while some experts thought the figure would hit
five per cent in the 12 weeks to 14 June.

The group, which said the challenging
economic environment continued throughout the quarter, grew sales by
7.3 per cent with fuel included.