Strong week for John Lewis

DEPARTMENT store chain John Lewis today said it received a welcome trading boost after weekly sales improved by 3.7 per cent on a year earlier.

The retailer, which has a store in the St James Centre, achieved a sales increase every day of last week, with sales on Saturday up 18 per cent because of favourable trading comparisons against hot weather for the same week in 2007.

The group's weekly sales haul of £47.4 million reflected a big year-on-year jump in demand for electricals and home technology, with sales up 12.4 per cent.

Fashion sales moved forward 7.4 per cent, but the weaker property market caused home furnishings to decline 7.9 per cent on a year earlier, it added. Out-of-town branches also performed well.