Sales at John Lewis department stores surged 17% to £75.7m last week as bargain-hungry shoppers took advantage of the retailer’s Sale.

Revenues rose in all the John Lewis’s main categories. Sales of home goods climbed 11.9%, driven by a strong performance from accessories and gifts which were up 23.2%.

Fashion sales climbed 12.8% in the period. Womenswear rose 14.8% and accessories and beauty climbed 15.6%, “fuelled by appetite for premium brands and handbags.”

The electricals and home technology category was ahead 30.8%. There was “terrific demand” for products such as tablet computers.

All but one of John Lewis’s stores delivered year-on-year like for like growth and 16 recorded double-digit improvements. Online sales soared 28.4%.

Sales at sister grocery chain Waitrose rose 3.2% to £109.7m over the week. The wet weather meant that “sales were driven by shoppers stocking up on warming and comfort foods that are more reminiscent of the winter months.”

Online orders rose 67.5%, representing Waitrose.com’s strongest sales other than at Christmas.

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