Tesco Q3 UK same-store sales ex-fuel rise 5.6 pct

LONDON, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Britain's biggest retailer, Tesco Plc, met forecasts on Tuesday with a 5.6 percent rise in third-quarter like-for-like sales in its core UK market, excluding fuel.

The supermarket group said group sales rose 9.6 percent in the 13 weeks to Nov. 25, or 10.3 percent excluding fuel.

International sales were up 17.9 percent at constant exchange rates.

Strategy and Finance Director Andrew Higginson said Tesco was ''looking good'' moving into the final four weeks of crucial Christmas trading.

''There's all to play for, but so far so good, we are looking forward to having a good Christmas,'' he said.

The average forecast was for a 5.7 percent rise in UK like-for-like sales excluding fuel, within a range of 5 percent to 7 percent, according to a Reuters poll of 12 analysts.

REUTERS CS BD1301