Department store John Lewis has reported another difficult week for sales in the latest sign that retailers endured a grim month in August.
The firm said sales for the week ending August 29 were down 3.4 per cent compared with last year, after falling 5.9 per cent in the prior week. They were three per cent lower in the four weeks to August 29.
It came as latest figures from accountancy firm BDO showed high street sales fell 4.3 per cent last month compared to 2014, the biggest fall since November 2008 - the height of the financial crisis.
There are growing signs that consumers last month preferred to spend spare cash on late holiday getaways amid the miserable August weather.
Paula Nickolds, buying and brand director for John Lewis, said prospects were looking better for this month.
She said: "A tough trading period closed with another difficult week, but with definite signs in the run-up to the Bank Holiday weekend that there is plenty of pent-up demand for us to target in September."
John Lewis said latest weekly fashion sales were down 0.9 per cent and home sales by 0.4 per cent while for electricals and home technology they were 9.3 per cent lower.
Sales at its flagship department store in London's Oxford Street were down 13.8 per cent.
Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Freddie George said it was a key week for the sector "before the children go back to the school and a week when consumers start to shop for their autumn wardrobes".
He added: "These figures are thus in our view very disappointing probably impacted by consumers, particularly those based in the south, choosing to take holidays."
Figures from easyJet this week showed it enjoyed a record month in August, carrying 7.1 million passengers, as Britons took opted to escape the soggy weather and take advantage of the strong pound.
But the poor weather has taken its toll on other firms. Halfords said cycling sales fell 11 per cent in the eight weeks to August 28.
BDO's figures for August showed fashion sales down 5.5 per cent in August while homeware sales were 3.3 per cent lower.
John Lewis Partnership, which also includes supermarket Waitrose, reports half-year results next week.
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