John Lewis sells one iPad every 10 seconds

John Lewis's most popular item this Christmas was the Apple iPad (AFP/Getty Images)

John Lewis recorded a 4.2 per cent year-on-year increase in sales to £164.4m on the back of last-minute Christmas shopping. The group said on Sunday there had been a 9.7 per cent rise in sales in the week to 22 December.

Its most popular item this Christmas was the Apple iPad, with one selling at its stores every 10 seconds. Sales in the group’s fashion department were up 3.3 per cent year-on-year, which the retailer attributed to children’s clothing.

Research by PricewaterhouseCoopers found that a large number of high-street retailers have begun discounting to attract shoppers.