The French furniture market is set to remain under pressure in the second half of 2025, following a 3.9% decline in the first half and a sharp 10% drop in June, according to the Institute for Foresight and Furniture Studies (IPEA). The institute warned that "nothing is less certain" regarding recovery, with its quarterly barometer indicating weak consumer intentions.
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Only 10% of households plan to buy furniture in the third quarter, one point lower than last year, while 12% intend to purchase second-hand goods. This marks the steady rise of resale as a structural competitor, with the strongest demand seen for storage and occasional furniture. Younger households aged 25–34 show the highest purchasing intent at 14%, compared with just 8% among those aged 55–75.
Despite shifts in consumer behaviour, physical stores remain the preferred channel, with 50% of buyers favouring in-person shopping, up from 42% earlier in 2025. However, household morale is low, with 79% of respondents pessimistic about the months ahead.
The IPEA concluded that declining purchase intentions and spending restrictions make a strong recovery in furniture sales unlikely, despite price-cutting efforts launched last summer.
Source: www.meuble-info.fr
