June 2025 marked the worst month of the year for specialist retailers, with the furniture sector hit particularly hard. According to data from Procos and the IPEA (Institute for Prospective and Furniture Studies), in-store furniture sales fell by 10.7% year-on-year, while the broader home equipment category declined by 3.1%.
© Elvie Lins | Dreamstime
The severe heatwave gripping France was cited as a major factor, drastically reducing footfall in physical stores by 4.3%. Consumer avoidance of overheated shopping centres saw a sharp shift toward online sales, which rose 4.2% compared to June 2024. Procos described the eight-point gap between in-store and online performance as "very significant and completely unusual".
Sub-sector variation within home equipment was notable, with furniture showing the steepest drop. Over the first half of 2025, furniture sales fell by 4.1%, contributing to a 2.3% overall decline in home furnishings.
The first week of seasonal sales also disappointed, down 4.8%, with expectations for recovery hinging on post-heatwave conditions and more stable tourism activity. Procos concluded that July's performance will be critical in determining whether June's losses can be recovered amid improving weather and a less disruptive summer environment.
Source: www.meuble-info.fr
