As seen on screen - and First Ladies

OVERSEAS sales have fuelled a further quarter of stellar growth at online fashion store Asos, pushing it closer to its £1 billion-a-year revenue goal.

The firm, which targets 16-34 year olds with clothes and accessories based on outfits first worn by celebrities, said sales overall rose by 69 per cent to 104.2 million in the three months to June.

International revenues surged by 160 per cent, easily out-gunning the 15 per cent sales growth recorded in the UK.

As well as strong trading in Asia, European sales rose by 80 per cent over the quarter and the US saw a 151 per cent hike to 7.1m helped by Michelle Obama wearing one of the British firm's own-brand dresses.

International sales now represent 57 per cent of total revenues. Asos has a target of 1bn of group sales by 2015.

• Primark has offset the squeeze on high street spending after it absorbed some of the rising cost of cotton and the hike in VAT to attract cash-strapped consumers, owner Associated British Foods said.