Walmart has posted another quarter of sales growth, which an analyst described as a “robust” improvement amid a very changeable consumer economy.

The company’s third-quarter revenue rose 5.5 per cent to $169 billion (up 6.2 per cent in constant currency), while operating income increased 8.2 per cent (up 9.8 per cent in constant currency).

The uplift is another sign of the retail giant’s “stability and savviness in a sometimes challenging external environment”, said GlobalData MD Neil Saunders.

At Walmart US, sales grew 5 per cent and underlying comparables were up 5.3 per cent. According to the analyst, this is an uptick on last quarter’s solid but modestly weaker growth, which underlines the company still has many levers it can pull to gain market share.

The foremost gain was in the core food and grocery category, as more customers, including high-income ones, have come to the chain over the past years to save money, said Saunders. While food inflation is now more modest, the company is still holding onto the vast majority of the gains it has made, he added.

General merchandise also returned to positive territory after a period of decline thanks to improved finances of core customers and strong seasonal selling occasions, he continued.

International’s sales were up 8 per cent, with operating income up 7.8 per cent. The company attributed the growth to stronger general merchandise, food and consumables sales.

E-commerce remains a bright spot with global sales up 27 per cent. Saunders believes the company continues to win both customer and market share, largely thanks to its investment in a very convenient and easy to use platform.

For the full year, the retailer has once again raised its outlook, now expecting sales growth of 4.8-5.1 per cent and operating income growth of 8.5-9.25 per cent in constant currency.