Metro Group has posted results for its first half, showing that sales rose by 0.1% to E31.3bn (£27.1m) compared with the previous year. In local currency, sales grew by 0.2%. Net profit for the period, before special items, reached E83m (£72m) compared with E127m (£110.2m) in 2010.

Sales in the international business climbed by 1.3% to E19.3bn (£16.7m), an increase of 1.4% in local currency. Asia and Africa grew by 14.3% and Central and Eastern Europe by 2.9%. The international share of sales rose from 61% to 61.7%.

According to the retailer, various factors affected business during the period. The continuing debt crisis in Europe as well as higher prices for food and energy affected consumer sentiment.