Department store group John Lewis has continued its strong start to the year with weekly sales up 4 per cent.

For the week ending 17 January, John Lewis said sales were healthy for its remaining clearance lines, as well as the early arrivals of its new season stock.

The retailer said home and fashion performed well, alongside “an exceptional jewellery sale” on Saturday afternoon.

In the Oxford Street store in London, it said bigger ticket items in home and electrical were picking up pace, while Cambridge and Newcastle also performed well.

John Lewis director of retail operations Patrick Lewis said: “Despite the challenges in the home market, it was promising to see such strong demand across beds, bedroom furniture and linens.”

Meanwhile, grocer Waitrose reported a slight dip in sales for the same week, down 0.8 per cent. The grocer said trade for the week had settled into a much more normal pattern after Christmas and the New Year, and after the previous week’s cold snap. It said comfort food sold well, including casserole products.

Overall, the John Lewis Partnership reported weekly sales up 1.1 per cent.

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