// John Lewis Partnership’s overall weekly sales drop 6.9%
// Waitrose weekly sales slides 4.2%
// John Lewis weekly sales drops 10.4%
Double-digit declines in John Lewis’ fashion and home departments has led to another week of overall sales fall for the retailer’s parent company.
For the week ending November 2, sales at the John Lewis Partnership declined 6.9 per cent year-on-year, from £240.19 million to £223.67 million.
This decline is worse than last week, when sales dropped 3.5 per cent year-on-year.
Meanwhile for the year-to-date, the partnership recorded a 0.9 per cent year-on-year decline.
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At John Lewis, sales were down 10.4 per cent on the same week last year as the department store retailer annualised against competitor promotions.
Sales in its fashion department plunged 16.6 per cent, although beauty and premium accessories sales were up as customers shopped promotions across these categories.
Home sales also plummeted, down by 14.1 per cent, but John Lewis pointed to a 22.1 per cent surge in Christmas decoration sales within the department.
The electrical and home technology department was the best performing category for John Lewis, with sales declining by only 2.5 per cent.
At Waitrose, sales excluding fuel were down 4.2 per cent compared to the same week last year.
The grocer said last week’s wet weather impacted sales, along with promotional activity running on different weeks year-on-year.
Waitrose recorded a 0.8 per cent dip in chilled and fresh food sales, ambient product sales declined 5.4 per cent and home and general merchandise sales dropped 8.8 per cent.
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