Record weekly sales for John Lewis

The group recorded a total of £142m of sales in the week ending on Saturday, up 15 per cent on the same period last year. “It’s a record week by £9m, which really has taken us aback. It’s a level of increase we just hadn’t anticipated,” said Andrew Murphy, John Lewis retail director.

The colder weather across Britain boosted fashion sales, particularly sales of coats, scarves and knitwear for both men and women. Toys and electronics also saw major uplifts.

Mr Murphy said sales were also helped as another retailer, electrical chain Comet, entered administration in November. It was also a record week for online sales, which totalled £42m, with the company’s highest ever one-day online sales of £7.3m recorded on Monday.

A John Lewis will form part of Harewood, the first phase of the Eastgate Quarters retail project in Leeds due to be completed in 2016.