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Jan 29, 2010
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John Lewis sales rise

By
Reuters
Published
Jan 29, 2010

LONDON (Reuters) - Retail bellwether John Lewis posted a sharp rise in sales for the second week in a row as milder weather encouraged customers to venture out to its stores.

John Lewis

The employee-owned group said on Friday 29 January sales at its 28 department stores, one John Lewis at home store, and internet business, increased 15.7 percent to 51.2 million pounds in the week to January 23 against the same week last year.

"Trade was helped by the snow finally melting away and customers' pent-up demand to get back to shopping. This gave us a buoyant start to the week which carried on through the week as the milder conditions stayed with us," said David Barford, director, selling operations.

The outcome was driven by a 39.9 percent rise in online sales.

Sales in the homewares and fashion categories jumped 26.9 percent and 21.3 percent respectively, while electricals and home technology sales rose 1.1 percent.

The John Lewis data was published as a survey said consumer confidence in Britain rose in January, driven by improving optimism over the outlook for the economy and personal finances.

This survey will go some way to countering a gloomy survey on January retail sales published on Wednesday 27 January.

John Lewis also owns the 222-store Waitrose supermarket chain.

Week to January 23 sales here increased 15.2 percent to 88.6 million pounds, underscoring Waitrose's current position as the UK's fastest growing grocer.

"In a week containing "Blue Monday" (January 13) -- widely considered to be the most depressing day of the year -- many chose to take comfort in home-cooked food," said Waitrose finance director Tom Athron.

He also noted that record numbers of shoppers added faggots to their baskets.

(Reporting by James Davey, editing by Mark Potter)

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