Heatwave hits UK retail sales
John Lewis highlights dip as customers stay at home
August 17 2003
Weekly sales figure from department store group John Lewis highlight the extent to which the heatwave across much of the UK has hit retail sales.
The John Lewis Partnership reported a 12.7 per cent decrease in department store sales in the week to August 9. compared to a year ago. Only two department stores, Nottingham and Edinburgh, saw growth.
Supply-chain director for department stores Patrick Lewis said: “As the temperature rose, footfall and sales dipped in direct proportion and we ended with one of the lightest Saturdays we have recorded in recent years.”
The John Lewis-owned Waitrose supermarket chain fared better, with sales up as customers bought drinks, salads and barbecue foods.
The John Lewis figures are likely to prove a bellwether for the performance of other UK retailers during a heatwave which saw temperature records broken. The SPSL retail traffic index shows customer numbers down by 12.5 per cent in the week beginning August 3, and 17.8 per cent in London and the south east.
Customer numbers have started to edge up in recent days as temperatures return to more normal levels.
