Sales at John Lewis department stores slowed to 4.1% last week to come in at £55.8m.
The retailer described the performance as “positive” and said fashion turnover was up 5.5%, home ahead by 4.9% and electricals and home technology up 1.7% in the period to January 15.
John Lewis reported that “furniture stole the show”. The category delivered an uplift of 10.9%, driven by products such as beds and bathroom wares.
Babywear, men’s formalwear and jewellery were among the top performing fashion lines.
In electrical, white goods performed strongly and were up 23.2%.
Online was up by 23.2%. Fashion was the best online performer, delivering a 51.2% increase.
Sales at John Lewis’s grocery chain stablemate Waitrose climbed 7.5% in the period to £93.5m.
Following the broadcast on television of Hugh’s Fish Fight, customers were keen to buy sustainably caught fish and try out less popular species.
Sales of Marine Stewardship Council-certified South African hake rose 300% and frozen mackerel and coley were ahead by 31% and 36% respectively.
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