Black Friday promotions fuelled a bumper week for John Lewis’ electricals and home technology category last week.

Sales in this department jumped 7.8% year on year in the seven days to November 18 as the retailer price-matched early Black Friday promotions and the new iPhone X proved popular.

However, home sales fell 1.4%, despite products linked to John Lewis’ ‘Moz the Monster’ advert performing well for a second week.

Fashion sales also slid 3.8% compared to the same week last year, due – the retailer said – to changes in annual competitor promotions.

However, this particularly impacted sales of beauty products. Clothing sales rose 3.6% as the colder weather kicked in.

Overall sales at the department store retailer were largely flat last week – up 0.3% year on year to £114.5m.

Waitrose

At upmarket grocer Waitrose, sales last week were up 0.4% year on year, totalling £132.9m, as shoppers’ Christmas preparations got under way.

Sales of chocolate selection boxes spiked 22%, while a half-price promotion drove sales of Christmas crackers and Panettone.

Ambient food sales rose 2.6% in the week, but home and general merchandise sales slipped 3%.

John Lewis Partnership

Across the partnership, sales nudged up 0.4% to £247.4m last week.

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