The rate of furniture production during January 2025 registered a slight monthly uptick, while the value in domestic goods was up on the previous month but down against last year.

According to the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) data, the rate of furniture production rose marginally by 0.1% compared to December, while falling 1.1% on January last year.

Production output fell by 0.9% in January 2025, following growth of 0.5% in December 2024, and fell by 0.9% in the three months to January 2025, with manufacturing output driving both the monthly and three-month falls.

Meanwhile, the value of the manufacture of furniture for January resulted at £741m, up 14.1% from £649.2m in December. Against the same period last year, the value declined 3.3% from £766.9m.

As for the value of furniture manufacturer exports, this decreased 21.9% to £33.5m for the month from £42.9m. Against last year, exports value fell 15.6% from £39.7m.

The value of domestic furniture manufacture increased 16.6% to £707.5m from £606.3m in the month, while down 2.7% from £727.2m last year.

Monthly real gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated to have fallen by 0.1% in January 2025, mainly caused by a fall in the production sector, after growth of 0.4% in December 2024.

Commenting on the GDP figures for January, ONS Director of Economic Statistics Liz McKeown said: “The economy shrank a little in January but grew in the latest three months as a whole, with the overall picture continuing to be of weak growth. 

“The fall in January was driven by a notable slowdown in manufacturing, with oil and gas extraction and construction also having weak months. However, services continued to grow in January led by a strong month for retail, especially food stores, as people ate and drank at home more.”