Fashion group H&M has reported a stronger than expected January, when same-store sales fell 1 per cent.

Total sales for the month rose 9 per cent - better than the forecast uplift of approximately 8.3 per cent.

Last week H&M announced that outgoing chief executive Rolf Eriksen will be replaced by Karl-Johan Persson in July, when he retires.

In H&M’s full year to November 30, 2008, profits rose 11 per cent to SEK21.19bn (£1.85bn).