John Lewis sales slip 1.6%

UK department store chain John Lewis today said its trading year ended “with a whimper” as demand for cold weather clothing failed to prevent a 1.6% sales fall.

The group posted sales of £43.5m (€49.8m) for the week ending January 31, a fall from £44.2m (€50.6m) a year ago, as demand for electrical and technology goods weakened.