Sales growth at department store operator John Lewis slipped back in the second week of its sale after a very string start.

Growth was down to a still-creditable 4.7 per cent in the week to January 10, after a 12.7 per cent rise the previous week, which saw the start of the post-Christmas sales.

Out-of-town stores saw the best performance, with the Bluewater branch recording the best year-on-year sales rise, at 32.6 per cent. A year ago snow kept shoppers away from the store.