John Lewis, Britain's biggest department store chain, said its sales have soared over the last four days, boosting UK retailers' hopes of a late rush of Christmas shoppers.
The employee-owned retailer said today that its sales jumped 20.7% year-on-year in the four days to December 21. However, this compares to a period last year when the UK was disrupted by heavy snow falls.
"In-store sales have benefited from the festive atmosphere created by employees, while online sales soared in the run up to the cut off deadline for delivery yesterday, albeit when compared with snowy conditions last year," David Barford, director selling operations at John Lewis said.
The 20.7% figure is, however, a gross number, inclusive of VAT sales tax and new space. Analysts estimate the underlying figure to be about 13.7%, excluding VAT and new space.
On Sunday, John Lewis reported gross sales for the week to December 17 up 10.6% to £133.1m, the highest weekly level in the company's history.
With Britons' disposable incomes being squeezed by rising prices, muted wages growth and government austerity measures, confidence is at a 34-month low and most retailers are nervous about spending in the key Christmas period. Discounting is rife.
John Lewis has, however, been outperforming rivals for over a year. It will make its next trading update on January 4.
The John Lewis figures were published as data showed overall UK shopper numbers so far this week slightly lower than the weak snow-affected period last year. Data released by Experian FootFall said Monday to Wednesday shopper numbers were down 0.04% compared with the same three days last year.
"This is a relatively poor performance given the severe snow which hampered pre-Christmas shopping patterns during the same period last year. However, this is the final shopping week before Christmas and of the six shopping days this week, there are still three days to go," Experian FootFall said.
