Laurent toasts champagne sales

THE WORLD may be drowning its sorrows in champagne after the 11 September atrocities and subsequent economic and political events. French-owned champagne maker Laurent- Perrier reported that sales of its famous brand rose 9% in September and October.

Laurent-Perrier, which sells 46% of its champagne to the French, said a leap in tax charges left its first-half net profit down to e2.5m (£1.5m) against e4.7m last year. Sales of all its products rose 6%.

France's champagne industry has suffered since it overstocked to celebrate the millennium, leaving thousands of bottles of bubbly in its cellars.

The world's biggest champagne producer, LVMH, reported a 4% fall in third-quarter sales, though industry sources say there has been a recovery as Christmas and New Year celebrations approach. Britain and the US are also champagne fans, with Thanksgiving Day in America usually boosting sales.