Electricals outpaces other categories
John Lewis Partnership started the second half with a healthy 11.1 per cent rise in sales last week, on the back of warmer weather and back-to-school footfall.

The group said its eponymous department store chain John Lewis got off to 'a cracking start', finishing with a stellar£46.5 million in sales over the week ended September 9.. At John Lewis Partnership's supermarket chain Waitrose, sales increased 9.9 per cent year on year.

John Lewis director of selling support Rob Collins said: 'After such a positive first half it is encouraging that our all-important second half has started with such vigour. Now the key is to build on that.'

Electricals and home technology continued to steam ahead of all other categories with a sales increase of 27 per cent year on year. Womenswear had a solid week, with separates, dresses and handbags the frontrunners over the period. In childrenswear and toys, babywear and boyswear flourished, according to the group. Furniture and textiles sales jumped 9.8 per cent, as did sales of menswear, leisure and beauty.