In August 2024, the French furniture market continued to decline, marking the fourth consecutive year of falling sales during this month. According to the latest report from the IPEA (Institute of Furniture Industry Studies), the market experienced a 6.5% drop in revenue compared to the previous year, following a sharp 9.2% decline in July.
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Photo: Dreamstime.
Despite the negative overall trend, the bedding segment performed relatively better, with its decline nearly half that of the broader market.
The IPEA notes that the focus in August seems to have shifted toward vacations and leisure activities, reducing consumer interest in purchasing furniture. This shift, combined with the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, has caused sales to fall below pre-pandemic levels from 2019. However, certain sectors like online marketplaces, bedding specialists, and discount furniture stores managed to show more resilience than the overall market.
The IPEA predicts that the market might stabilise in the final months of the year, with possible annual declines ranging between 4.2% and 5.8%, depending on performance during the last quarter.
Source: www.meuble-info.fr