John Lewis sees weekly sales slip

JOHN Lewis said business suffered last week as shoppers shied away from household goods and big-ticket electrical items.

Sales at the department store chain during the week to 21 June fell 1.2 per cent compared to last year, with all three Scottish branches reporting a downturn.

It is the sixth decline in the past seven weeks for the group, widely seen as a bellwether for the retail sector. Sales during the 21 weeks to 21 June were up just 1.2 per cent compared to last year, reflecting what chief executive Andy Street called a "more challenging" market.