U.K. department store chain John Lewis and London department store Liberty PLC (LBE.LN) kicked-off the retail Christmas trading season Monday with encouraging sales reports that offer some hope that the expected carnage on the high street won't be as bloody as feared.

John Lewis said comparable sales in the five weeks to Jan. 3 were flat compared with a year earlier. While Home sales were down 6% as consumers slashed spending on home-related goods, Fashion sales, including beauty, rose 4% amid steep discounting. Electricals and Home Technology sales increased by 10%.

Up-market London department store Liberty meanwhile said its sales for the first 10 months to Dec. 31 were ahead of last year.

While conceding November's trading was hurt by the general retail slowdown, Liberty said "sales in December exceeded expectations and almost matched last year's record Christmas as the store cleared its stocks in preparation for its store renovation in January." Liberty didn't provide specific sales figures.

The crisis in the retailing sector was nonetheless underscored Monday by news Passion for Perfume Ltd. has joined the growing list of U.K. retailers in administration. These include Adams Childrenswear Ltd., clothing chain USC, CD and DVD retailer zavvi; coffee-and-tea purveyor Whittards of Chelsea; clothing chain the Officers Club; Woolworths Group PLC (WLW.LN) and furniture retailer MFI.

Other U.K. retailers that are scheduled to report trading performances in coming days include:

Tue, Jan. 6:  Next PLC (NXT.LN) trading update 
              Debenhams PLC (DEB.LN) trading update 
              Dunelm Group Plc (DNLM.LN) trading update 
 
Wed, Jan. 7:  Marks & Spencer Group PLC (MKS.LN) 
              3Q trading update 
 
Thu, Jan. 8:  J Sainsbury PLC (SBRY.LN) 3Q trading update 
              Signet Group PLC (SIG.LN) Christmas trading 
              Topps Tiles PLC (TPT.LN) trading update 
              Alexon Group PLC FY results 
              Ted Baker trading update 
 
Fri, Jan. 9:  JD Sports Fashion PLC (JD.LN) trading update 
 
Tue, Jan. 13: Game Group PLC (GMG.LN) trading update 
              Topps Tiles PLC (TPT.LN) trading update 
              Jacques Vert PLC (JQV.LN) trading update 
 
Wed, Jan. 14: Galiform PLC (GFRM.LN) trading update 
 
Thu, Jan. 15: Home Retail Group PLC (HOME.LN) 3Q 
              HMV Group PLC (HMV.LN) trading update 
              JJB Sports PLC (JJB.LN) 
              DSG International PLC (DSGI.LN) trading 
              update 
              Tesco PLC (TSCO.LN) trading update 
              (TBC)Halfords Group PLC (HFD.LN) trading update 
              Mothercare PLC (MTC.LN) trading update 
 
Tue, Jan. 20: Kesa Electricals PLC (KESA.LN) trading update 
 
Thu, Jan. 22: William Morrison Supermarkets PLC (MRW.LN) 
 
Fri, Jan. 23: ASOS PLC trading update 
 
Mon, Jan. 26: WH Smith PLC (SMWH.LN) AGM trading update 
 
Tue, Feb. 3: Carpetright PLC trading update

-By Lilly Vitorovich, Dow Jones Newswires; 44-0-207 842 9290; lilly.vitorovich@dowjones.com

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