Strong sales in January at JD Sports Fashion have lifted expectations for its full-year results.

In a statement today, JD Sports said that positive sales experienced over Christmas were sustained in January.

The retailer said: “As a consequence management confidently expects that the group’s profit before tax and exceptional items for the year ended January 31, 2009, will marginally exceed current market expectations.”

In January the sports retailer reported a strong Christmas, with group like-for-like sales for the five weeks to January 3 up 2.8 per cent.

Like-for-like sales climbed 12.5 per cent at its fashion fascias and 1 per cent at its sports fascias.