Food-to-detergent group Unilever said on Thursday its underlying sales growth in the fourth quarter of last year was up 6.1%, which is above analysts forecasts. Price increases accounted for 3% of the increase.

CEO Patrick Cescau said the period marked a strong finish to a good year and the third successive annual acceleration of sales growth.
‘In 2008 we expect underlying sales growth to be towards the upper end of our 3-5% target range,’ Cescau said.