Furniture store spending in the U.K. rose notably in June 2025, according to the latest Barclays Consumer Spending Index. The category saw an 8.2% increase in card spending and a 2.1% rise in transactions compared to the same month last year, its strongest performance since March 2022.
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Barclays attributed this growth to a surge in first-time buyer mortgage completions in March, ahead of April's stamp duty changes, suggesting "new homeowners furnishing their new properties" likely contributed.
While furniture stores outperformed, other home-related sectors declined. Home improvement and DIY spending fell by 4%, with transactions down 10.1%. Department stores reported a 10.1% drop in spend, discount stores were down 5.1%, and garden centres saw a 3.6% decline.
Overall, UK consumer card spending dipped slightly by 0.1% year-on-year, a slower fall than May's 1.0% drop and below the 4.0% CPIH inflation rate. Essential spending contracted by 2.1%, while non-essential spending grew marginally by 0.8%, supported by activity in entertainment and health & beauty.
Karen Johnson, Head of Retail at Barclays, said that despite warm weather, shoppers "spent cautiously in June", but confidence in household finances rose to 73%, a four-month high.
Source: www.bigfurnituregroup.com
