John Lewis Partnership said sales at its 27 UK department stores increased 12.6 pct to 43.1 mln stg in the week to July 30, while sales at its chain of 167 Waitrose supermarkets were up 11.6 pct to 61.3 mln stg. John Lewis noted that the department store division produced sales increases every day of the week, with Saturday (July 30) particularly strong at up 11 pct. For the 26 weeks to July 30 department store sales were down 1.1 pct, Waitrose sales were up 18.4 pct and total sales were up 9.6 pct.