The LVMH luxury products group has reported a rise of 17.6% in third quarter 2011 sales to just over €6bn, higher than some analysts expectations. Sales in Europe, however, went up by 7% compared with 18% in the US and 27% in Asia.
The group achieved a 10% increase in perfume and cosmetics sales but following the recent comments on economic conditions from Clarins, a difficult year is expected in Europe in 2012. Sales of cosmetics and perfumes fell slightly in the third quarter this year in Europe, due mainly to poor growth in the south of the region.