Like-for-likes up at John Lewis

Cooler weather has helped to drive footfall and bolster sales at the John Lewis department store chain.

Like-for-likes were up 14 per cent for the week ending August 12, although that was against a sales decrease in the same week in 2005.

The group said it had seen improvements across all buying directorates. Electricals continued to be the best performing division, up 25.3 per cent as demand for flat-screen televisions continued. There was also significant interest in furnishings and back-to-school ranges. Sales at the internet business John Lewis Direct were up 89.1 per cent.

Like-for-like sales at supermarket chain Waitrose were down by 1.4 per cent on the previous week, but still up 11 per cent on last year.

The supermarket chain said less-predictable weather and the holiday exodus were to blame for the fall.