Like-for-likes down on quarter-final day
High temperatures and sporting events pushed like-for-likes into negative at John Lewis department stores last week.

Like-for-like sales were down -0.1 per cent, compared with an average increase of 10.7 per cent for the year so far.

The department store chain said a comparable sales decline of only 11 per cent on Saturday - the day of England's World Cup quarter-final clash - came as a 'welcome relief'.

Electricals and home technology remains the best-performing department and womenswear continued to lose momentum.

In contrast, sales at supermarket chain Waitrose were up on the previous week and last year.

Like-for-likes were up 14.8 per cent, compared with increases of 10 per cent on average so far this year.

The group said the hot weather and sporting events were behind the strong performance.