PARIS, Aug 27: Growth in worldwide sales of mobile telephones will slow sharply in 2008 as consumers face increased economic difficulties, a report by Gartner research institute showed on Wednesday.

The US-based industry research unit predicted an 11 per cent growth in global sales to 1.28 billion units this year, down from a rise of 16 per cent in 2007.

Sales reached nearly 305 million in the second quarter, a rise of 11.8 per cent on a year earlier, it said.

“The economic environment continued to negatively impact mobile phones sales in both mature and emerging markets,” Gartner’s head of research for mobile devices said in the institute’s report.

“Replacement sales remained weak as consumers faced higher prices for fuel and food in addition to higher levels of inflation.” —AFP