DEPARTMENT store group John Lewis said sales declined for the second week running – adding to fears over consumer confidence.

The company, which has outperformed the retail sector in recent years, said sales excluding VAT were down by 3.1% for the week to last Saturday. This followed a 4.4% drop in the previous seven days.

Including VAT, sales were down by 0.9% on a year earlier. Four of the firm’s 29 stores that have been open for more than a year increased sales on a year ago – those at Cambridge, Trafford, Glasgow and Peter Jones in London.

Fashion sales rose by 1.4% with home sales 0.3% higher and electricals and home technology down by 5.1%.

The online business grew sales by 18.4%.