Consumer price inflation for flooring fell sharply in January, almost halving from 2% in December to 1.1%, according to data from the Office for National Statistics.
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Despite the drop, prices have risen for five consecutive months and in eight of the past nine months overall. Over the past year, inflation exceeded 0.4% in only four months, recording 1.1%, 2%, 1% and 1.1%.
Retailers have nevertheless been warned to anticipate further price increases from suppliers, suggesting cost pressures remain in the pipeline.
Carpets and rugs were again the main driver of inflation, posting a 1.5% annual rise. Although this was down from 2.4% in December, it remains well above the long-term annual average of 0.4%.
By contrast, smooth flooring continued to experience deflation, extending a trend that has persisted for more than a year. The rate of price decline deepened from 1.3% to 1.9% over the period.
The figures indicate that while overall inflation in the flooring sector has cooled significantly, underlying price movements vary widely by product type, with some categories still under upward pressure and others continuing to fall.
Source: www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk
