The UK Big Four's first quarters

Tesco and Sainsbury's have this week reported their first-quarter sales and, although the UK's four major retailers have different financial years, all of them, following Morrisons and Asda's announcements last month, have now updated the market on how they are performing.

On the money: King upbeat as Sainsbury's misses City forecasts

13 June 2012

Sainsbury's chief executive Justin King today (13 June) stood by the UK retailer's recent performance after the company missed City forecasts on its first-quarter sales.

UK: Sainsbury's: "We are still out-performing the market"

13 June 2012

Sainsbury's said today (13 June) it was still performing better than its UK retail rivals after it reported an increase in first-quarter underlying sales.

Comment: Tesco needs time - will it get it?

12 June 2012

Looking at Tesco's first-quarter sales figures, it seems trading remains tough for the UK's largest retailer. However, Tesco has only just started introducing the changes it hopes will revitalise its domestic business. That said, competition remains fierce and the fall in Tesco's share price suggest investors are less than confident about the prospects of a recovery in the short term.

On the money: Clarke insists Tesco "seeing momentum" in UK

11 June 2012

Tesco CEO Philip Clarke said today (11 June) the retailer's recent moves to breathe fresh life into its UK arm was giving its domestic business "momentum".

UK: Tesco claims "solid" Q1 despite weak UK sales

11 June 2012

Tesco, the UK's largest retailer, said this morning (11 June) its performance in the first quarter of its financial year had been "solid" despite another period of falling domestic like-for-like sales.

UK: Discounters, Waitrose continue to grow ahead of market - Kantar

22 May 2012

Tesco and Morrisons continued to feel the pressure in the last three months as only the discounters and Waitrose grew ahead of the UK retail market.

Talking shop: Price-driven Asda prospers - for now

18 May 2012

Asda, the UK's second-largest retailer, has reported "market-leading growth" in early weeks of 2012. Analysts say Asda's focus on price has helped the retailer gain shoppers from the likes of Tesco and Morrisons, although, if and when the economy recovers, it may need to demonstrate it can offer consumers more. Dean Best reports.