Consumer card spending in furniture in UK stores increased in November 2025, according to Barclays' latest Consumer Spending Index. Spending growth rose 6.8% year-on-year, while the number of transactions grew 1.2%. This contrasts with declines in other sectors: home improvement and DIY stores fell 3% in spend and 6.4% in transactions, department stores dropped 8.2% in spending and 6.4% in transactions, and discount stores saw spending decrease 8.3% with transactions down 9.7%. Garden centres recorded a modest 1.5% rise in spend, but a slight 0.7% drop in transactions.
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Overall, consumer card spending fell 1.1% compared to November 2024, marking the steepest decline since February 2021, and trailing the latest CPIH inflation rate of 3.8%. Essential spending dropped 2.9% for the seventh consecutive month, while non-essential spending fell 0.3% for the first time since July 2024.
Despite broader declines, retailers benefited from Black Friday on November 28, which saw transaction volumes surge 62.5% above the 2025 daily average. Karen Johnson, Head of Retail at Barclays, noted that November was a month of uncertainty as consumers awaited seasonal discounts and the Autumn Budget. She suggested that the Black Friday boost may help set a positive tone heading into the Christmas shopping period.
Source: www.bigfurnituregroup.com
