UK homeware sales on the high street declined for the first time in eight weeks, signaling uneven recovery across retail categories.
According to BDO's latest data, homewares like-for-like sales fell by 0.7%, despite a weak comparison base from last year. In-store homeware sales dropped further (-1.3%), while online sales rose 3.1%, highlighting continued strength in e-commerce over physical retail.
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This comes even as overall retail performance was strong. Total like-for-like sales increased 9.85%, driven by fashion (+12.3%) and lifestyle (+7.2%) categories. Non-store sales surged 18.7%, marking the best result of the year so far.
However, footfall declined by 2.7%, with high streets seeing the sharpest drop (-5.5%), suggesting fewer shoppers are visiting physical stores.
The data points to a shift in consumer behavior, where demand remains selective and increasingly online. While broader retail shows resilience, homewares continue to lag, reflecting cautious spending and weaker in-store activity.
Source: www.bigfurnituregroup.com
