WPP posts first quarter like-for-like growth

LONDON (Reuters) - WPP Group (WPP.L), the world's second-largest advertising firm, reported first-quarter like-for-like revenue growth of almost 5 percent on Friday, and said trading had slowed in March and within western Europe.

The like-for-like revenue growth was at the lower end of forecasts but WPP, whose agencies include JWT and Ogilvy & Mather, posted reported revenue growth of 1.56 billion pounds which was ahead of expectations.

Analysts had been expecting like-for-like revenue growth of 5.4 percent and reported revenues of 1.51 billion pounds according to a Reuters poll of 14 analysts.

(Reporting by Kate Holton)