John Lewis reports big loss and warns of no-deal hit as Brexit dents consumer mood

Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Falling sales and surging costs plunged John Lewis into a £25.9m loss in the first half of its financial year – and the company warned that Brexit will continue to hold back consumers. “Brexit continues to weigh on consumer sentiment at a crucial time for the sector as we enter the peak trading period,” said Sir Charlie Mayfield, chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, noting that the company tends to make the majority of its profits in the second half of the year. John Lewis said it was pushed into the red by its department stores where sales fell 2.3 per cent, with subdued consumer confidence depressing demand for home and electrical goods in particular. “Customer behaviour continued to be impacted by the uncertainties around the prolonged Brexit process, and consumer confidence continued to be low,” the company said.