Sales for week up 15.2 per cent on last year
Sales at John Lewis rose 15.2 per cent for the week to October 7, reaching£51.8 million and matching turnover for the start of November last year. The increase was JLP's best for six weeks, with 25 out of its 27 stores posting improved numbers.

Pride of place went to the Solihull store, which recorded a 30.3 per cent increase against last year, a number that places it second in the Partnership's store portfolio, behind the Trafford branch, for the 10 weeks of the financial year to date.

Among the buying departments, the strongest performance came, once more, from electricals and home technology, which rose 25.5 per cent, while childrenswear, and toys and crafts continued to languish at the bottom of the league with an increase of just 3.5 per cent for the week.

Online sales continue to outshine every other area of John Lewis' business with sales up by 61 per cent last week.

John Lewis director of retail operations Gareth Thomas said that more autumnal weather and strong interest in the 'highly commercial Christmas shop' had contributed to the positive results.

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