Swedish fast fashion retailer H&M has hailed its transformation work as the group reported a double-digit rise in second-quarter sales.

In a statement on its sales development in the period, H&M said for the period from 1 March to 31 May, group net sales increased by 11% to SEK57.47bn (US$6.1bn). The figure compares with SEK51.98bn last year. In local currencies, net sales increased by 6%. 

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

Shares in the group were up by more than 2% on the news this morning. 

H&M has battled with slowing sales and falling profits in the last few years as a result of declining footfall due to changes in customer behaviour, particularly in its namesake stores.

In March, however, the retailer offered an optimistic outlook on the year ahead, with CEO Karl-Johan Persson confident the retailer’s transformation work is “having an effect”, despite a drop in first-quarter profit.

“The rapid changes in the fashion industry continue and we can see that our own transformation work is taking us in the right direction, although hard work and many challenges still remain,” H&M said today. “As customer satisfaction and sales increase, we have intensified our transformation work even further.”

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

The group operates over 4,900 stores in 72 markets under brands including H&M, COS, Monki, Weekday, & Other Stories and Arket. 

H&M will publish its six-month report for 2019 on 27 June, covering the period 1 December 2018 to 31 May 2019.

Just Style Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Style Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact

Excellence in Action
From bio-based durable water repellents to 90–95% wastewater recovery, Archroma’s dual win in the 2025 Just Style Excellence Awards highlights its sustainability-first approach. Find out how PHOBOTEX® NTR-50 and the Mahachai ZLD project are helping apparel and textile players meet tightening global regulations.

Discover the Impact