Record-breaking week
A surge in Christmas gift buying has helped boost John Lewis' sales by 6 per cent to£82.2 million for the week to December 2.

John Lewis director of retail operations Gareth Thomas said: 'This is our highest ever takings except for each of the two weeks immediately preceding Christmas 2005. Twenty-two branches, including Direct, ended the week firmly in the increases as the success was shared across the country.'

Sales of electricals continued to soar, with laptops and flatscreen TVs among the star performers. Furniture and textiles remained strong, with sales of festive furnishings surging ahead.

Menswear, leisure and beauty finished comfortably. However, success in womenswear came mainly from handbags and jewellery, although fashion sales have started to lift, despite the mild weather. Sales of toys continued to perform well.

Commenting on this week's trade so far, John Lewis director of customer service Simon Fowler said: 'A great start to the week with sales ahead of last year by just over 8 per cent from Sunday to Wednesday and stepping ahead of last week by more than 13 per cent.'