Tesco reports slower sales growth in its first quarter, with the company pointing to “ongoing uncertainty” for households linked to conflict in the Middle East. Across multiple reports, Tesco’s comparable (like-for-like) UK sales rise by 1.8% in the three months to the end of May, down from 4.2% in the previous quarter. The figures are described as better than some expectations from analysts, helped by strong online performance, but the overall growth rate is still more than halved. Retail Gazette and other outlets also report that Tesco’s comparable sales reach £13.4 billion for the quarter, while the company’s total sales increase by 1% to £16.8 billion over the 13 weeks to May 30. Financial Times coverage adds that Tesco maintains its market share gains, even as it adopts a cautious outlook. Several outlets attribute the weaker momentum to consumers adjusting their spending in the context of the Iran-linked conflict risk, contributing to uncertainty in the period covered.