The firm said the drop reflected the distraction to shoppers of the Beijing Olympics and summer school examination results together with tougher comparative numbers from a year ago.
Sales in the week to Aug. 16 at its 26 department stores fell to 47.2 million pounds ($88.2 million) -- the 10th week out of 15 that sales have fallen as UK shoppers have cut back on spending due to higher fuel, food and mortgage costs.
Many retailers are struggling as consumers curb spending. Sellers of high priced goods are suffering more than most, with fewer people moving home and house prices falling sharply.
Analysts estimated the fall on a like-for-like basis, which strips out the impact of new space, to be about 7 percent.
The subdued performance was driven by a 9.4 percent fall in sales in the home category and a 5.3 percent decline in electrical goods and home technology.
At the group's chain of 189 Waitrose supermarkets, sales increased 2.3 percent to 72.4 million pounds but were negative on a like-for-like basis, despite high food price inflation.
Total John Lewis Partnership sales fell 0.3 percent to 119.6 million pounds.
(Reporting by James Davey; Editing by Paul Bolding) ($1=.5351 Pound) Keywords: JOHN LEWIS/ tf.TFN-Europe_newsdesk@thomsonreuters.com jlw COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Financial News Limited 2008. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Thomson Financial News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Financial News.
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