Home electricals boost sales
Department store John Lewis enjoyed strong trading in the week to January 7, according to the stores weekly Gazette.

The employee-owned store reported that sales were up 4.1 per cent like for like and 9.2 per cent week on week.

Electrical and home technology again outstripped other categories, recording a 17.5 like-for-like sales increase. The group said they traded strongly in flat-panel TVs and MP3 players.

In clothing womenswear was up 0.7 per cent. Menswear leisure and beauty sales jumped 3.9 per cent, however, furniture and textile sales dipped 3.1 per cent.

Childrenswear toys and crafts also fell at 1.3 per cent.

John Lewis corporate affairs director Nigel Brotherton said: 'The present week is our final week of Clearance, giving us an opportunity to complete the so far successful process of clearing our stocks for the new season.'