UK grocery retailer Morrisons has reported a 0.7 per cent increase in like-for-like sales during the six weeks to 1 January 2012 compared with the same period a year before, despite what it described as “challenging” Christmas trading.

In a pre-close update ahead of its financial year end on 29 January, the supermarket operator said its total sales for the festive period had risen by 2.9 per cent from the previous month, with an estimated extra 800,000 customers per week.

“In a challenging Christmas period for the consumer, the group has delivered sales growth in line with the market,” Morrisons said in a statement.

Looking ahead, the retailer predicts that the UK consumer environment will “remain cautious” during 2012 despite an anticipated reduction in inflationary pressures, although it believes it is “well positioned to make further progress”.

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