[null, {"document_url": "https://www.express.co.uk/finance/city/364884/Festive-sales-cheer-for-the-high-street", "unformatted_src": "https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/22/590x/mossbross-364884.jpg", "src": "https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/22/590x/mossbross-364884.jpg", "formatted_filename": "mossbross", "alt_text": "Moss Bros says outfit hire got a lift"}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.express.co.uk/finance/city/364884/Festive-sales-cheer-for-the-high-street", "unformatted_src": "https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/143/132x88/1061290_1.jpg", "src": "https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/143/132x88/1061290_1.jpg", "alt_text": "14 Days of Fortnite LTM news leaks challenges start and end date"}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.express.co.uk/finance/city/364884/Festive-sales-cheer-for-the-high-street", "unformatted_src": "https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/106/132x88/1061288_1.jpg", "src": "https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/106/132x88/1061288_1.jpg", "alt_text": "queen elizabeth prince philip when will her majesty take train sandringham christmas "}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.express.co.uk/finance/city/364884/Festive-sales-cheer-for-the-high-street", "unformatted_src": "https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/23/132x88/1061284_1.jpg", "src": "https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/23/132x88/1061284_1.jpg", "alt_text": "christmas payments 2018 when child benefit universal credit paid over christmas new year "}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.express.co.uk/finance/city/364884/Festive-sales-cheer-for-the-high-street", "unformatted_src": "https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/139/132x88/1061283_1.jpg", "src": "https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/139/132x88/1061283_1.jpg", "alt_text": "Brexit news nicola sturgeon second eu referendum vote theresa may "}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.express.co.uk/finance/city/364884/Festive-sales-cheer-for-the-high-street", "unformatted_src": "https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/35/132x88/1061273_1.jpg", "src": "https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/35/132x88/1061273_1.jpg", "alt_text": "Guns N\u2019 Roses new album 2019 single Richard Fortus Axl Rose Slash"}, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null]
Moss Bros says outfit hire got a lift

Fashion retailer Moss Bros and upmarket household goods and womenswear retailer Laura Ashley both reported a good autumn as people returned to the high street after the Olympics.

John Lewis also added to the brighter mood by reporting a 15 per cent rise in weekly department store sales to a record £142million.

But broker Seymour Pierce sounded a note of caution, saying retailers had stepped up price-cutting in the past week to attract shoppers.

Analyst Freddie George said: “Christmas spending has yet to get into full swing.”

Moss Bros said like-for-like sales in the 19 weeks to December 8 rose 3.7 per cent against the same period a year ago.

People hiring more black tie dinner suits for weddings and special events after a lull during the European football championships and the Olympics boosted outfit hire sales.

The group said it was encouraged by trading and it was confident of hitting annual targets despite the tough economy.

Chief executive Brian Brick said: “Our hire business has successfully overcome the challenges posed by the summer’s sporting activities. We’re entering the important Christmas trading period in good shape.”

Laura Ashley said like-for-like sales increased by 4.9 per cent in the 19 weeks to December 8.

Christmas spending has yet to get into full swing

Analyst Freddie George



Finance chief Sean Anglim said improvements to home furnishing ranges such as lighting and bed linen had increased demand.

A new mobile phone website and more overseas internet business drove a 22.6 per cent lift in online sales.

Anglim said: “I think the growth will continue.” He added: “It’s all about this week, next week and the first four weeks after Christmas for us. We’ve seen all the usual trends and sales are slowly increasing as we get closer to Christmas but we haven’t been taken by surprise either positively or negatively.”

John Lewis said demand for tablet computers and headphones drove its record sales, while colder weather lifted sales of outerwear, cashmere and accessories such as scarves and gloves.

John Lewis’s retail services director Barry Matheson said: “There was a slight heart flutter early in the week when snow fell across parts of Scotland and north-east England but as the snow thawed customers returned to shopping with a vengeance.” Bitcoin price: A HUGE trader just shorted Bitcoin and it’s created crypto SHOCKWAVES Santander fined £32.8m after failing to pass on accounts of deceased customers to families Bitcoin price SLUMP: Expert reveals why bitcoin could soon show UPWARD spike