Lego defies the gloom

SALeS of Lego jumped 14pc in the first six months of the year as families under lockdowns spent more time playing together at home.

The family-owned Danish toymaker managed to outpace the overall toy market between January and June.

‘We saw a very positive development during the coronavirus lockdown when families began playing and building Lego sets together,’ chief executive Niels Christiansen said.

While consumer sales grew 14pc in the period, revenue rose by only 7pc to $2.5bn.

The difference in figures was due to retailers drawing on existing inventory to meet demand, as Lego was forced to shut production temporarily in Mexico and China, the firm said.