John Lewis posted a solid increase in sales for the week ending November 16, as colder weather lifted clothing sales.

The department store chain delivered sales up 1.8 per cent over the period, although that was substantially down on the 14.4 per cent uplift for the same week last year.

John Lewis personnel director Eric Gregory said: “The colder weather encouraged clothing sales and the best scores came from menswear, leisure and beauty, with menswear branded casualwear to the fore.”

John Lewis Direct registered booming sales up 31 per cent, driven by a strong furniture performance.

Stablemate supermarket chain Waitrose reported a 5.1 per cent sales increase in the seven days to November 10, with sales bolstered by a strong performance from its fireworks offer. This week, Waitrose opened a supermarket in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, its first store built above a multi-storey car park.

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