John Lewis weekly store sales down 9.8 pct
John Lewis Partnership, the employee-owned store chain seen as a barometer of the retail sector, said on Friday last week's sales at its 27 department stores fell 9.8 percent year on year.
Wood Group profit up 39 pct as sales and margins riseThe group said the fall of half-term school holidays led to an easing of trade in many areas during the week and that the effect of the slowing economy had hit trade over the 13 weeks to October 25.
"The third quarter of the year ended on a subdued note, coinciding as it did with confirmation that the UK economy shrank during this period. The effect can clearly be seen in our trade - with a distinct softening since the summer," the company said in a statement.
It said the shortfall also reflected continuing slow home and electrical sales but that fashion had performed reasonably well.
"The evidence is that although our customers are being far more judicious in their spending, they are still choosing to spend with us," the company said.
Department store sales were up 8 percent compared with last week at 52.04 million pounds, while sales at the group's chain of 192 Waitrose supermarkets was largely flat at 73.4 million pounds.
(Reporting by Rhys Jones, editing by Will Waterman)
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