The French furniture market experienced a slight decline in March 2025, with sales down 1.4% year-on-year, according to the IPEA (Institute for Foresight and Furniture Studies). This drop follows a sharp dip in February, though kitchen specialists showed a "quite unexpected" upturn, offering a more optimistic outlook for the sector.
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Despite challenging conditions, kitchen retailers recorded notable gains in March compared to February, contributing to the strongest performance in distribution. Bedding specialists also continued their positive trend, standing out as the only segment to register growth over the first quarter.
Conversely, the large furniture distribution segment faced ongoing difficulties, with results "tending to decline more quickly than those of the market." Over the first quarter of 2025, furniture sales declined by 3.8%, following a near 6% drop in 2024. This cumulative fall represents a nearly 10% decline between 2023 and 2025.
Production across the French furniture industry also remained weak. INSEE data showed a 7.1% fall in manufacturing activity in early 2025, in line with previous declines in 2023 and 2024. Office and shop furniture continued to struggle, while 'other furniture products' such as sofas and bathroom items recorded an 11.1% drop in the first two months.
Although kitchen consumption showed improvement, industry production remains under pressure, with a 15% fall in early 2025.
Looking ahead, IPEA cited ongoing political instability, cautious consumer sentiment, and a stagnant property market as key challenges. However, slight improvements in housing starts and existing home transactions could help support furniture sales in the coming months. IPEA concluded that improved communication strategies appear to be helping some kitchen retailers "find consumers" and reignite spending.
Source: www.meuble-info.fr