John Lewis, Britain's biggest department store chain, posted a 9.3% year-on-year rise in sales over the Christmas trading period, gaining market share and placing it firmly in the festive winners' camp.
The employee-owned retailer said today its sales came to £596m sterling in the five weeks to December 31. It said sales at stores open over a year were up 6.2%, while online sales soared 27.9%.
John Lewis said sales in the electricals and home technology category were up 4%, with fashion and beauty up 10.3% and homewares increasing 13.6%.
The firm said that sales in the week to Christmas Eve jumped 32.7%. But they fell 4.8% in the following week as the comparative week last year was the week before the VAT sales tax increase on January 1, 2011.
"Trade in 2012 will undoubtedly be challenging and economic conditions volatile," said Managing Director Andy Street.
