Office Depot saw sales fall 4.7% to $3.1bn (£1.9bn) during the three months to March 27, 2010. Operating profit came in at $56m (£36m), compared with a loss of $60m (£39m) in the first quarter of 2009.

Net profit was $29m (£19m), an improvement on the $55m (£36m) loss in the same quarter a year earlier.

“Our first quarter operating results exceeded our expectations, due primarily to a stronger than anticipated performance for the second consecutive quarter by our international division,” said chief executive Mike Newman.