John Lewis reports outstanding Christmas trade

John Lewis has reported ‘outstanding’ trade over the Christmas

period – a 9.3% year-on-year rise in total sales.

Sales reached £596 million in the five weeks to 31 December while like-for-like sales were up 6.2%.

Online sales in the period were up 27.9% on last year and have now exceeded £600 million for the year to date.

Andy Street, John Lewis managing director said: "Sales during the four weeks to Christmas Eve were outstanding. During that period, we broke the record for our biggest week ever with a sterling total of £133.1 million for the week ending 17 December."

Looking ahead Street said that trade in 2012 would be challenging as economic conditions continued to be volatile.