LONDON (MktNews) - The UK John Lewis Partnership said Friday its department store sales in the week to February 3 were up 5.1% on the same week a year ago.
Meanwhile, total sales, which includes those of supermarkets, rose 10.2% in the week to February 3 compared with the same week a year ago.
Nigel Brotherton, administration director, said, "The first week of the half-year brought us an increase which was just ahead of our new estimate. Year-on-year, we were a little below the striking rate we achieved in the last half, but the two-year comparison was rather more encouraging."
He pointed out that the daily comparisons were thrown out by the fact that the new calendar month fell two days later than last year, but "we finished the week on a positive note with a good Saturday."