Carrefour, the world’s second-biggest retailer, said second-quarter sales fell 1.2 percent, hurt by weaker western European markets, lower petrol prices and exchange rates.

The drop to €23.4bn (£20.1bn) was slightly less than some analysts’ forecasts. Half-year sales were €46.2bn (£39.8bn). Carrefour group chief executive Lars Olofsson described half-year sales as “resilient”, but said that the trading environment showed “no signs of improving in the short term”.