Floor stores under pressure in pre-Christmas slowdown
January 20, 2025
November's uplift in trade was following by a December decline in retail flooring sales according to today's data fromt the ONS.
The Office for National Statistics said flooring sales fell 17.9% in value in December compared to the previous month, though this performance was 31% better than a depressing December in 2023.
Some of the difference is accounted for in changes to retail prices which started to show deflation in the later part of 2024.
Overall, retail sales in the furnishing sector were up 14% in December as sale promotions made an impact. Kris Hamer, Director of Insight at the British Retail Consortium, said: "Retail sales picked up in December, but this unfortunately did not offset the shaky start to the ‘Golden Quarter’. Sales of furniture and other large ticket items were hard hit as families continued to think twice before making larger purchases."
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