Unilever warns of fragile consumer market

Consumer goods giant says growth is weakening across emerging markets and negative in Europe

Unilever has said it is operating in a fragile consumer environment with deflation weighing on its performance in Europe and slowing growth in emerging markets.

The consumer goods company behind well-known brands such as Persil, Marmite and PG Tips, said sales in Europe fell by 0.6% in the first quarter as the impact of eurozone deflation and aggressive price discounting took its toll.