John Lewis is the latest to suffer a consumer slowdown

It said sales at its department stores were up 1.8% in the week to 10 November, compared with a rise of 14.4% in the same period a year earlier.

Demand for iPods and laptops helped support sales growth in a "quiet" week.

The retailer is not alone in feeling the pinch as higher interest rates have taken their toll on consumers.

UK retail sales unexpectedly fell last month, the first decline in nine months, figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed.

Sales slid 0.1% in October, compared with a 0.3% rise in September, casting a cloud over consumer spending in the most lucrative time of year for the High Street.

Higher mortgage costs as a result of higher interest rates and a global squeeze on credit are weighing on UK consumers.

Many have become less willing to spend than when mortgage and credit card repayments were cheap and house prices were soaring.

But now that the housing market looks set to slow, confidence in the growth of house prices has been knocked, which has also left many people feeling less well off.

'Well-placed'

John Lewis, which has 26 stores across the UK and sells online, said that a strong turnout last Saturday was a lifeline and helped the retailer's sales show a gain for the week.

Clothing, particularly branded menswear, was in favour, the retailer said.

It added that sales of a Christmas version of card game Top Trumps had doubled from the week before.

With improved availability of stock, a �6.2m Christmas advertising campaign under way, and a well-positioned supply chain, the retailer said it was "very well-placed" for the key Christmas shopping period.

But looking at the longer term trend over the 15 weeks to 10 November, the slowdown in trading was as dramatic as for the one week.

Sales over that period rose 2.3%, while last year the figure was 15.8%.