Parcels and mail group UK Mail got a boost from the Royal Mail's industrial problems before Christmas, both registering a slight rise in sales and profits on previous expectations following a good third quarter.

The group revealed in its interim management statement that the revenues increased by nearly 4% year-on-year for the period from 1 October to 31 December.

However, the parcels business witnessed its first revenue jump since previous financial year, with significant volume growth partly offset by unceasing pricing pressures.

While, the mail business firm reported a continued boost in its revenues, fetching benefits from the initial signs of improvement in the levels of more discretionary mailings that had witnessed a troubling situation due to the economic turmoil.

Alongside, specialist services also returned to revenue growth with an improving scenario in both the courier and pallets businesses.

“As a result of this good trading performance, we now expect that profits for the year ended March 2010 will be slightly ahead of previous expectations”, UK Mail shared.