John Lewis department store sales in the week to May 6 totalled £82.85m – a 2.3% increase on the same week last year.

Fashion enjoyed the strongest sales growth – up 3.9% year-on-year, with casualwear in particular performing well.

Home sales slipped 0.1%, however, as warmer weather in the same week last year significantly drove sales of outdoor living, the retailer said.

It was a good week for John Lewis’ beauty, wellbeing and leisure departments – up 14.6%, with sales of premium beauty brands driving the uplift.

Waitrose

Sales at Waitrose came in at £128.54m last week – a slight year-on-year increase of 0.9%.

The upmarket grocer said overcast weather prompted shoppers to opt for roast dinners, fuelling a 20% uplift on meat and accompaniments.

The weather also helped café sales.

A promotion on ready meals led to a 73% increase on pre-prepared Chinese dishes.

Across the partnership, sales edged up 1.4% year-on-year, amounting to £211.39m for the week.

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