John Lewis Partnership, the employee-owned group seen as a barometer of retail spending in Britan, today blamed the earlier fall of Easter last year and sunny weather for a sharp fall in sales.
The group, which runs 27 department stores in the UK, said week to March 21st sales in the division fell 12.6 per cent to £44.4 million.
The sales decline was driven by a 23 per cent fall in the electricals and home technology category and a 15.6 per cent decline in homewares. Fashion sales were up 0.2 per cent.
"A combination of the fall of Easter last year and some glorious weather was always going to mean we were up against some challenging trading comparisons. And so it proved to be," John Lewis said of the department stores outcome.
"However, on the back of this, what is reassuring is our underlying trade continued to maintain a steady course and we captured some valuable additional sales in the lead up to Mother's Day."
Many UK retailers have been struggling as indebted consumers rein in spending amid soaring unemployment, sliding house prices and fears of a long and deep recession.
Yesterday official data showed UK retail sales fell 1.9 per cent month-on-month in February.
Sales at John Lewis' chain of Waitrose supermarkets fell 13.7 per cent to £81.1 million.
"This time last year was Easter so a year-on-year sales comparison isn't meaningful. However a comparison against budget shows sales well ahead of target," said John Lewis of the Waitrose performance.
Reuters