Warm weather failed to boost H&M‘s fashion line as the world‘s second largest global retailer announced a surprise drop in monthly sales for July for the first time since March.

Sales in comparable units saw a drop of one per cent as the summer sun failed to inspire trading.

The Swedish multi-national company, which conducts 70 per cent of its business through Europe, has added 337 stores to its portfolio since July last year, bringing its total to 2,940.

H&M did not comment on today‘s figures.