John Lewis have released figures for this weeks trade showing a sales growth of 4.7% year on year in the four days to the end of Wednesday 14, 2011.

Commenting on trade this week Lesley Ballantyne, director of operational development for John Lewis, said: "Shoppers are thinking about Christmas comforts this week...baking festive treats and adorning homes with comfortable furnishings and covenient appliances is clearly top of shopping lists."

Other highlights include climbing sales of boys' and girls' hat gloves and scraves, driven by the cold weather.