John Lewis sales back under pressure

Department store chain John Lewis today said sales dipped 0.8% last week in a sign of a return to tougher conditions on the high street after a festive trading boost.

The group posted £44.5m (€49.5m) in sales, down from £44.9m (€49.9m) a year ago, as John Lewis said shoppers were impacted by the economic gloom in a week that saw the UK declared officially in recession.