Record week for department store
John Lewis said electronics stole the show this December, when it posted bumper trade figures for the penultimate week before Christmas today.

The department store said like-for-like sales soared by 8 per cent in the week ending December 17.

Last week sales of MP3 players climbed a massive 279 per cent on last year. Sales of notebook computers grew 95 per cent, flat panel TVs rose 71 per cent and digital radio increased by 17 per cent on 2004's figures. Managing director Charlie Mayfield said: 'Sales were ahead of last year in 21 branches, including Direct, and in all buying directorates.

'Records tumbled in Edinburgh, Nottingham, Glasgow and Aberdeen. In London, sales were well ahead of last year in Peter Jones and Kingston, and Oxford Street had its biggest day of the year so far on Saturday when the street was closed to traffic.'

Commenting on this week, director of retail operations Gareth Thomas said: 'We are currently 8.9 per cent ahead of last week's record week and 8.9 per cent ahead of this time last year.

'Significant increases are coming from both our city centre and out-of-town shops right across the country. Sales of electronics and beauty items are particularly strong this week as gift buying reaches fever pitch.'

The retailer's online arm, John Lewis Direct, became the ninth branch of John Lewis to hit the annual sales milestone of£100 million on December 20. The£100 million mark was reached with the sale of one of 2005's must-have gifts, Apple's black iPod.

The retailer's next trading announcement is expected on January 27.