John Lewis furnishes profits rise in home sales

DEPARTMENT store chain John Lewis yesterday posted a 15.8 per cent year-on-year rise in weekly sales as households turned their attention to home furnishings ahead of the Easter break.

The partnership said its home division led sales growth, with a rise of 19 per cent thanks to strong demand for furniture – up 29 per cent in the week to 20 March.

Electronics and white goods also performed well, sparked off by the new range of high definition freesat televisions, according to John Lewis.

The stores in Edinburgh and Glasgow shared in the sales success – up 7.5 per cent and 5.3 per cent respectively – but Aberdeen continued its poor run of results, down 3.6 per cent.

News of the 51.4 million department store sales haul came as the chain described last week's trading as "cracking".

Director of selling operations Nat Wakeley added: "The approach to Easter is typically a stimulus to home furnishing and this year appears no different."

The partnership's Waitrose supermarket arm also had a strong week for sales, up 10.1 per cent in total, with the brighter March weather driving demand for summer-style foods such as quiches and appetisers.

The start of the spring-cleaning season also saw a surge in polish and dusters sales, up 15 per cent and 19 per cent respectively.

Howard Archer, an economist at IHS Global Insight, said: "The ongoing healthy John Lewis' performance gives a boost to hopes that retail sales are going to be decent in March after a weather-influenced mixed start to the year."