Sales at John Lewis dropped sharply last week as freezing weather conditions across the UK deterred shoppers. 

The department store retailer said sales dropped 14.4% year on year in the seven days to March 3.

It cited trading disruptions due to stormy weather across most of the country as the main reason for the significant falls in fashion and home sales – down 18.8% and 17.2% respectively.

Electricals and home technology also fell 6.3%, despite a 265% spike in sales of heating products and tumble dryers.

Waitrose

Waitrose fared slightly better, with sales excluding fuel creeping up 0.8% compared with the same week last year.

The grocer attributed this to increased demand for warming food and drink, such as canned soup – up 50% – and coffee, up 16%.

JLP

Sales across the partnership fell 5.1% to £198.02m.

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