Fashion retailer H&M posted a 17 per cent year-on-year sales rise in January.

The Swedish group, which has 1,524 stores in 28 countries and opened its flagship store on London’s Regent Street yesterday, reported a 3 per cent rise in comparable sales.

In the year to November 30, 2007 sales were up 17 per cent, with a like-for-like uplift of 5 per cent.