H&M GROUP SALES DEVELOPMENT IN MARCH

In the month of March 2007, sales in local currencies including VAT increased by 29 per cent compared to March previous year.

Sales in March have been favoured by warmer weather than in the corresponding month last year. Furthermore, the calendar effect is estimated to account for around three percentage units of the sales increase.

Sales increase per month in per cent excluding currency rate changes:

2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07

December 11 13 14(4) 16(5)
January 14 5 15(5) 16(5)
February 13 6 11(2) 15(5)
March 7 20 0(-8) 29(17)
April 13 15 9(1)
May 7 18 13(5)
June 15 18 9(1)
July 14 12 11(2)
August 15 17 15(5)
September 10 7 9(0)
October 9 10 12(3)
November 24 11 11(2)

Whole year 12 13 11(2)


The figure in parenthesis represents the sales development in comparable stores. A store is comparable if it has been open and has had an unchanged sales area for at least a financial year. H&M’s financial year extends from 1 December to 30 November.

The number of stores amounted to 1,386 on 31 March 2007 versus 1,216 on 31 March 2006.

Sales development in the month of April will be published on Tuesday 15 May 2007 at 8.00 CET.

Rolf Eriksen, Managing Director


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