Asda sales higher on budget demand

Supermarket chain Asda today said sales of its budget ranges were more than 20% higher as customers focused on bargains in the face of rising costs.

The UK’s second biggest grocer – part of the Wal-Mart group – said the jump for its Smartprice and Extra Special products helped boost underlying sales growth during the second quarter to 6%, compared with 5% for the first quarter.