Ikea full-year sales gain 3.1 pct helped by China growth

Ikea Group said full-year sales rose 3.1 percent as the flat-pack furniture retailer gained share in most markets and benefited from growth in Russia and China.

Revenue increased to 27.9 billion euros ($37.9 billion), the company said on Monday in an e-mailed statement. Same-store sales gained 1.8 percent at the retailer, which owns the majority of the world's Ikea outlets.

Ikea said some of the strongest growth was in Russia and China and that North America showed significant progress. Southern Europe continued to be affected by that region's weak economy. The group, which will release its full-year report in January, said it gained share in "almost all markets".