Sales at John Lewis department stores climbed 15.3% to £71.6m last week, helped by wet weather and strong technology sales.

Electricals and home technology revenues climbed 34.1% year-on-year in the period to July 7.

The retailer said that the vision category “continued its strong run as the Euro 2012 trade seemed to be replaced by a building anticipation of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games”.

Sales of home products climbed 8.9%, also benefiting from an apparent Olympic effect as customers bought official merchandise.

Fashion sales were ahead 9.4% although performance was mixed across categories. Nursery and babywear and women’s accessories were among the products most in demand.

John Lewis buying director, home, Paula Nickolds said: “The continued miserable weather, coupled with the third week of a successful Clearance, saw customers heading to our shops for some retail therapy.”

Online sales rose 45%.

At sister supermarket group Waitrose, weekly sales rose 6.1% to £109.8m. The retailer sold more than 11 million strawberries, helped by interest in Wimbledon, but reported that “shoppers continue to turn to food more commonly associated with our winter months”.

Waitrose also said that its first shop in Abu Dhabi had a strong opening week.

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