John Lewis has reported a slight drop in weekly sales, but remains confident new stock and promotions will stand it in good stead.

For the week ending 24 January, weekly sales were down 0.8 per cent.

The department store retailer said it has exited its Clearance period well and “can look back on last week with satisfaction”. However, it said sales were harder to come by towards Friday and Saturday, possibly linked to the coverage of the economy.

John Lewis said electricals and home technology led the sales, with the strongest performance again coming from TVs. Trade in fashion was helped by new season stock, and womenswear and childrenswear performed well.

Trade in home continued to be challenging, but John Lewis said customers responded well to promotions.

John Lewis head of selling operations Dan Knowles said: “We are now in the last week of 2008-09. With new stocks arriving in the stores thick and fast and some great new promotions we are well placed to enter the new financial year in good style.”

Grocer Waitrose reported weekly sales up 2.1 per cent and said its£10 meal deal proved “a great hit”.

For the John Lewis Partnership, weekly sales were up 1 per cent.

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