Unilever reports upbeat trading

Consumer products giant Unilever today cleared up some confusion over last year’s sales figures by saying trading came in at a stronger-than-forecast 5.4%.

The Anglo-Dutch group, which is also behind brands such as Dove soap and Hellmann’s mayonnaise, said underlying sales in its leading labels grew 5.4% during 2002, ahead of forecasts it gave a month ago of between 4.5% and 5%.