The John Lewis Partnership has reported a decline in sales in its final weekly sales figure as the department store retailer axes the weekly updates.

The department store retailer posted a 2.5% fall in sales in the week to January 25, exacerbated by a 9.3% slump in sales across its home division during the period.

The retailer’s electricals and home technology sales rose 1.1% year on year, driven by operating system Windows 7 reaching its end of life and triggering new purchases of computers and laptops. Fashion sales also edged up 0.4%, while beauty, well-being and leisure sales increased 1.4%.

Sister retailer Waitrose posted a 1.6% decline in sales.

Across the partnership sales fell 1.9% to £194.7m.

A spokeswoman for the John Lewis Partnership said the retailer’s move away from a weekly update on sales figures was triggered by the business’s new structure, which will mean that sales and operating profit will not be split out between two brands, but instead reported by general merchandise, grocery and services categories.

The Partnership will continue to publish half- and full-year financial results, with its new metrics for sales and operating profit coming into effect at the half-year mark in September.

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