Unilever announces third-quarter sales increase of 4.8%

CONSUMER goods giant Unilever reported a 4.8% jump in third-quarter underlying sales yesterday, near the top of expectations, pushing shares to an eight-month high.

The growth at Anglo-Dutch Unilever, the maker of Sunsilk shampoo, Knorr soups and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, came after 2.9% and 3.9% growth in the first and second quarters, helped by a strong pick-up in Europe and as it boosted ad spending.

Analysts said the step-up in sales growth and the easing in input cost inflation, such as for oil, suggested the group was heading in the right direction and helped overshadow a fall in operating margins as it spent heavily on recovery.