Supermarket giant Woolworths Ltd has announced to register a 4.7% jump in its third quarter sales (including petrol sales), however, has plunged its full-year sales forecast on account of the unceasing inflationary pressures.

"Given the greater than anticipated impact on sales of low food and liquor inflation and the cycling of the prior year stimulus, we revise sales growth guidance for the year which we now expect to be between 3% and 6%," the company posted.

For the 13 weeks ended April 4, Australia's biggest retail company marked a rise to $12.91 billion in its total sales compared from $12.33bn posted last year.

Excluding petrol sales, were witnessed to be up by 3.8% to $11.5bn.

However, Woolworths did not extended a reaffirmation that it hopes its net profit after tax for the 2010 financial year to widen in the range of 8% to 11%.

In addition, the company cautioned that excessive discounting introduced to lure customers would result to some imposing pressure on its margins.

The company shares registered a plunge 1.4% touching $26.54 following the announcement of the results.