Furniture retail sales increased during December on last month but were slightly down against an annual comparison.
According to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics, furniture and lighting retail sales rose 14.5% to £1.50bn from £1.31bn in November. Compared to the previous year, sales were down 3.2% from £1.55bn.
Floorcovering retail sales decreased month-on-month, down by 17.9% to £247.8m from £301.9m. Compared to the same time last year, sales rose by 31% from £188.8m.
Retail sales volumes (quantity bought) are estimated to have fallen by 0.3% in December 2024, following a small rise of 0.1% in November 2024. As for the value (amount spent), this was up 38.8% month-on-month to £60.4bn.
Falls in supermarkets were partly offset by a rise in non-food stores, such as clothing retailers, which rebounded from falls in recent months. Food stores sales volumes fell 1.9% on the month, putting index levels at their lowest since April 2013.
This fall was partly offset by a rise in non-food stores sales volumes (the total of department, clothing, household and other non-food stores) which increased by 1.1% over the month. Clothing stores had the largest upward contribution, rising by 4.4% in December, rebounding from falls of 3.5% in November 2024 and 3.3% in October 2024. Department stores and household goods stores also rose over the month which retailers attributed to stronger Christmas sales.
The amount spent online, known as “online spending values”, rose by 1.5% during December 2024, the first monthly rise since September 2024. Sales values rose by 1.7% when comparing December 2024 with December 2023, but fell by 3.3% when comparing Quarter 4 (Oct to Dec) 2024 with Quarter 3 (Jul to Sept) 2024. Total spend – the sum of in-store and online sales – rose by 0.1% over the month. As a result, the proportion of sales made online increased from 26.5% in November 2024 to 27.0% in December.
Commenting on the retail sales figures for December, ONS senior statistician Hannah Finselbach said: “Retail sales fell in December following last month’s slight increase. This was driven by a very poor month for food sales, which sank to their lowest level since 2013, with supermarkets particularly affected.
“It was a better month for clothing shops and household goods stores, where retailers reported strong Christmas trading. With the timing of Black Friday falling within these latest data, our figures when not adjusted for seasonal spending show overall retail sales grew more strongly than in recent Decembers.”
Responding to the latest ONS Retail Sales Index figures, 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’. In non-food, electricals, beauty and books made for popular presents. Meanwhile, sales of furniture and other large ticket items were hard hit as families continued to think twice before making larger purchases, and clothing and footwear sales remained muted.
“While retailers welcome this boost to sales, it will barely touch the sides of the £7bn in new costs from the Budget facing the industry in 2025. Higher employer national insurance contributions, higher National Living Wage, and a new packaging levy will heap pressure on an industry that is already paying more than its fair share of tax. With retailers doing all they can to absorb existing costs, two thirds of CFOs report they are left with little choice but to increase prices, and reduce investment in jobs and shops. To mitigate this, Government must ensure that its proposed business rates reform does not result in any shop paying higher rates than they already do.”
