(TheDrinksBusiness) - Pernod Ricard has reported a rise in profits and sales for the first six months of its financial year “despite a less buoyant economic environment than in 2011/12″. Pernod-RicardSales for the six months, ending 31 December, totalled 4,907 million euros (£4,217m), which represents 6% growth for the group. The net profit was 847 million euros (£727m), which is also a 6% increase. The group reported a similar pattern to Diageo with strong sales in China, the US and Eastern Europe helping to override disappointing figures from Western Europe.