In the first few shopping days after Christmas, department store retailer John Lewis has reported an 11 per cent year-on-year increase of its post-Christmas sale as customers went shopping in strong numbers. The figures for the department store group, which issues weekly sales figures to its partners, are the first concrete indicator of UK consumer response to the sales.

Homeware was strongly in demand. Gareth Thomas, director of retail operations, said: "We are seeing particularly strong sales of reduced saucepan sets, duvets, towels and linen, with our 20 per cent-off white china ranges flying off the shelves". MP3 players and cameras also continued to be in demands as people spent Christmas money. Thomas said: "We are confident that the momentum will continue up to and through the weekend and predict a strong Saturday."

The strong start to the sale, building on a upturn in sales the three day run-up to Christmas Eve, will help the 26-store John Lewis department store arm make up for a generally sluggish December. Overall, like-for-like sales for the 28 days to December 23 were 1.2 per cent down. The Partnership also owns the Waitrose supermarket chain.