John Lewis sees steady sales rise

By SCOTT REID
Published on 30/06/2012 00:00

Department store operator John Lewis enjoyed a steady rise in sales last week at it continued to defy the gloom elsewhere on the high street.

The employee-owned retailer yesterday posted a 9.9 per cent year-on-year rise in overall sales in the week to 23 June. Total takings across the chain came to £76.1 million. All three Scottish stores registered gains, with Aberdeen up by 6.1 per cent, while Edinburgh and Glasgow rose 0.6 per cent and 0.5 per cent, respectively

Peter Ruis, buying and brand director at John Lewis, said: “A fantastic 9.9 per cent increase on last year was a great all-round performance.”

IHS Global Insight economist Howard Archer said: “Decent but slower sales growth for John Lewis suggests consumers are still careful in their spending.”