Despite a 7% decline in home sales for the past week, the department store chain reported an ongoing interest in outdoor cooking and entertaining.

John Lewis trading director Simon Coble said home sales were down for the week ended Saturday, August 11, adding: “However, customers have begun to buy new autumn winter products. Our new season own-brand House range is proving popular, with sales of the brand up 19% on the same week last year.”

In the Gifts, Cook and Dine category, outdoor cooking and party products continue to perform well for the retailer, along with outdoor furniture where sales were up 18%.

Whilst the sunshine has given outdoor living a boost, it had a negative impact on trade across the rest of the business, with total sales down 1.8% on the same week last year.

Meanwhile, Electrical and Home Technology sales were up 0.9%, with vacuum cleaners recording a 47% uplift on the same period last year.