Cold weather boosts John Lewis weekly sales

A road cleaner walks past a John Lewis store in Edinburgh, Scotland March 11, 2009.

LONDON (Reuters) - Retailer John Lewis JLP.UL posted an 8.7 percent rise in sales from its department stores in the last week, compared with the same period last year, boosted by cold-weather demand for jackets and duvets.

The employee-owned group, seen as a bellwether of Britain's retail sector, said on Sunday sales were 99.9 million pounds in the seven days to November 27.

The chain reported large increases in sales of electric blankets, jackets and wellington boots.

Purchases of scooters and wooden kitchens for children as well as digital products such as electronic book readers and Apple Inc (AAPL.O)'s iPad also boosted sales.

Waitrose, the John Lewis-owned supermarket, said sales for the week ended November 27 surged 10.6 percent compared with the same week last year to 103 million pounds, boosted by purchases of warming foods including soup, hot chocolate and stewing meat for casseroles.

(Reporting by Sarah Young; Editing by David Cowell)

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