Department store group John Lewis saw sales, excluding VAT, jump four per cent ahead of last year in the week to September 10.

The uplift – of 5.8 per cent including VAT – came on top of a 7.1 per cent rise the week before, resulting in “a great start to September”, as head of operational support Chris Hooper put it.

Electricals and home technology was the store group’s best-performing product category with sales up 9.2 per cent on a year ago.

In electricals, Mr Hopper said the group was encouraged by the growth of the accessories business, in particular that of laptop and tablet bags and cases.

“Increasing competition in the tablet world will be of interest to front line branch partners, as will be the recent return to form of our vision business, driven once again by the 46in models,” he said.

Online sales at johnlewis.com were 35.5 per cent ahead of last year.