Total sales at John Lewis were down 4.8% last week on the same period last year. The retailer said that home sales fell by 9.5% due to discounts offered over half term by its competitors. However, John Lewis benefited from the unseasonably warm weather which led to outdoor furniture sales rising by 33%.
Electrical and home technology sales were also down with a drop of 6.9%, although sales in the tablets and computers category increased by 15.9% year-on-year.
Fashion sales rose by 1.1% after menswear sales climbed by 3.1%. Men’s branded casual clothing performed well following the launch of a new collection of six independent menswear brands in ten John Lewis shops and online.
