Shadow over John Lewis sales despite summer lift

Britons are preparing for summer by stocking up on sunglasses, with sales up 74% on the same week last year, according to John Lewis' latest figures.

Sun cream and outdoor toys were also big sellers and the "staycation" trend was clear in the 32% rise in garden furniture sales for the week to 30 May. But overall the sunny weather didn't offer much cheer for High Street bellwether John Lewis. Total sales for the week were 8.2% down on last year's takings, at £44.48 million. With the capital a draw for tourists, the Oxford Street branch was less affected, declining 3.8%.

Andrea O'Donnell, commercial director at John Lewis, said: "The sunshine reduced footfall and made sales harder to come by."

It was a brighter picture at Waitrose, where barbecues caused food sales to rise by more than 10% to £84 million. The supermarket chain sold 120% more meat than in the same week in 2008. But it is a moot point whether consumers really enjoyed the hotter weather: sales of allergy products were up 225%.