John Lewis says customers ‘resilient’

CUSTOMERS of retail bellwether John Lewis are “proving themselves to be resilient” ahead of Christmas, the group has claimed.

The department store announced yesterday that sales last week to Saturday saw only a small 0.8 per cent dip on last year but an increase of 6 per cent on the previous week. John Lewis had total sales of £76.3 million. Strong performances came from home furnishing services, particularly floor coverings and the 7day express curtains service. Sales of bedding increased significantly, the company said.

John Lewis said that clear gift trends to emerge include technology – for both adults and children – and gift food.

The trading news came a day after the retailer’s Christmas television advertising began – watched by an estimated ten million viewers in a prime X-Factor slot on Saturday.