With only five shopping days to go before Christmas, retailers still have everything to play for.
John Lewis's figures show that department store and online sales rose 0.4 per cent year on year in the week to December 13.
Managing director Luke Mayhew said: 'Week 20 (last week) was the peak week last year. We have got to try to make week 21 (the week ending December 20] the peak this year.'
Traffic monitor SPSL said shopper numbers rose 1.3 per cent last Sunday compared with the same day last year, but on Monday they fell 0.1 per cent. FootFall figures indicate that shopper traffic rose 27.8 per cent over the past four weeks.
Clothing retailer Principles experienced negative like-for-likes in the first week of December, but sales turned positive last week. The Entertainer enjoyed a 7 per cent surge in like-for-likes last week and is confident of its best December ever. December like-for-likes at e-tailer Figleaves are up 120 per cent, according to chief executive Michael Ross.
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