RETAILER John Lewis today said department store sales were up 13.2% as it geared up for Christmas with an "excellent" week of trading.
The figure - assisted by softer comparisons with trading during last year’s financial crisis - featured double-digit gains in six out of the seven days.
John Lewis Direct saw sales surge by 35.1%, while the company’s Aberdeen store was the only branch to miss out on a sales improvement. JL’s Trafford outlet saw sales growth of 23.9% after strong demand for consumer electronics.
Selling operations director Nat Wakely said the chain’s performance last week offered a confidence boost going into the all-important Christmas season.
He added: "In fashion we could do with the weather turning a bit colder, but toys are certainly climbing that hill to Christmas in confidence with a clear theme of anything animal related."
The figures from John Lewis showed strong sales growth in all divisions, with fashion up 12.4%, electricals and home technology up 20.4%, and the home category ahead 14.6%.
Waitrose, the supermarket business of the John Lewis Partnership, maintained its recent strong performance with sales growth of 17.1% to £90.4 million.
