Furniture production in the UK saw a modest increase of 1% in May 2025 compared to April, with a 2.6% rise year-on-year, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The value of domestic furniture manufacturing also rose by 5.1% to £807.7 million from £767.8 million the previous month, though it was slightly down by 0.03% compared to May 2024.
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Despite these gains, the overall production output in May fell by 0.9%, mainly due to a 1.0% decline in manufacturing output. Export values for furniture dropped sharply by 8.4% month-on-month to £45.8 million, marking a 17.3% decrease year-on-year.
The UK economy contracted slightly in May, with a 0.1% fall in monthly GDP following a 0.3% decline in April. ONS Director of Economic Statistics Liz McKeown noted that "the economy contracted slightly in May with notable falls in production and construction," partially offset by growth in services such as legal and computer programming sectors.
The furniture sector's modest production growth contrasts with broader economic challenges, including weakness in export performance and manufacturing, reflecting ongoing market uncertainties.
Source: www.bigfurnituregroup.com
