John Lewis weekly sales dip as late Easter knocks comparisons

For the week ending February 28, John Lewis said the shift of Easter by three weeks meant that it was up against figures for the week leading up to Mother’s Day last year.

It said the timings had a significant influence on gifting, particularly flowers, and it was therefore down on last year.

It will now face several weeks where it will not be easy to gain a true like-for-like comparison until the impact of Easter works its way through the calendar.

The retailer said childrenswear remained strong, and Pancake Day “added some fun and excitement into our cookshop departments and generated a useful uplift in sales in frying pans” said head of selling development Barry Matheson. John Lewis also said consumer electronics had the best increase on last year.

Matheson said: “The later fall of Easter should play to our advantage in the weeks ahead but it could be challenging until we get into April. With the buying office focus on availability clearly showing through as well, we will be well placed to take more than our share of trade in the weeks ahead.”

Grocer Waitrose reported a 1.3 per cent dip in weekly sales. It also said the year-on-year comparison is challenging because of Mother’s Day but Pancake Day boosted sales of pancake ingredients and products, with home baking up 20 per cent and golden syrup up 95 per cent.

The John Lewis Partnership reported an overall dip of 4.7 per cent.