Jumper sales boost John Lewis profits

Cut-price cashmere jumpers helped keep UK retailer John Lewis in upbeat mood today as it posted bumper figures in the first week of its January sale.

The department-store chain reported sales of £77m (€113.9m) from December 27 until January 2, which was up 8.2% on the same period last year. The figures include sales at the Trafford Centre branch in Manchester and online, where the sale started a day earlier.