Sales at John Lewis slid last week as “unseasonably warm weather” dented fashion sales.
The department store business said total sales fell 4% to £98.7m in the seven days to October 28, as fashion sales dropped 1.9% year-on-year.
John Lewis said it was also impacted by a competitor promotion.
Despite the fashion slowdown, the performance marked an improvement on the previous week – the seven days to October 21 − when fashion sales slumped 6.9%.
John Lewis also suffered a decline in home sales, which fell 2% last week, but lighting and kitchenwear sales increased 20.5% and 4.1% respectively.
Furniture sales rose 1.9% year-on-year and Halloween products were up 19%.
Sales in the retailer’s electrical and home technology category slumped 7% as, it said, shoppers delay buying new smartphones until the latest iPhone X is released this coming Friday.
Waitrose
John Lewis’ stablemate Waitrose generated £127.9m in sales last week – a 2.1% increase year-on-year.
The grocer said it was another sparkling week for wine, up 13% overall, with fizz sales up by 31%.
Sales of vegetarian food increased 24% as Waitrose unveiled its biggest range of meat-free foods.
Across the partnership, sales slipped 0.7% to £226.7m last week.
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