H&M sales miss target amid cost-of-living crisis

Bloomberg

Hennes & Mauritz AB sales declined more than expected over the summer as the Swedish retailer fell further behind rival Zara amid a growing cost-of-living crisis across Europe.
Revenue dropped 4% excluding currency shifts in the three months through August, the Swedish retailer said. Analysts had expected a decline of 1.4%. That’s the first retreat in six quarters. Zara-owner Inditex SA reported a 25% jump in sales for the first half and a higher profit than expected after increasing prices. H&M has said it seeks to strengthen its market position by not raising prices as much as competitors.
The company, one of the world’s biggest fashion retailers, had almost recovered from the Covid 19-pandemic when Russia invaded Ukraine, and is now struggling with soaring inflation and a more pessimistic outlook for the broader economy. In June, H&M said it would take a financial hit of 2 billion kronor ($190 million) for closing its shops and exiting Russia.
Sales gradually improved during the quarter because of higher interest in its autumn collections, H&M said. Total revenue was 57.45 billion kronor.
The shares swung between gains and losses in early trading in Stockholm on Thursday. The stock has lost more than a third of its value this year and currently trades near its coronavirus-related lows of the spring 2020.