May 2025 furniture production shows monthly uptick

The rate of furniture production during May 2025 registered a monthly increase, while the value in domestic goods rose on the previous month but relatively flat against last year.

According to the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) data, the rate of furniture production rose by 1% compared to April, while up 2.6% on May last year.

Overall, production output is estimated to have fallen by 0.9% on the month in May 2025, following an unrevised fall of 0.6% in April 2025. The fall in May 2025 was mainly driven by manufacturing output decreasing by 1.0%.

Meanwhile, the value of the manufacture of furniture for May resulted at £853.5m, up 4.3% from £817.8m in April. Against the same period last year, the value decreased 1.1% from £863.4m.

As for the value of furniture manufacturer exports, this decreased 8.4% to £45.8m for the month from £50m. Against last year, exports value fell 17.3% from £55.4m.

The value of domestic furniture manufacture increased 5.1% to £807.7m from £767.8m in the month, while down 0.03% from £808m last year.

Monthly real gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated to have fallen by 0.1% in May 2025, following an unrevised fall of 0.3% in April 2025 and growth of 0.4% in March 2025.

Commenting on the GDP figures for May, ONS Director of Economic Statistics Liz McKeown said: “The economy contracted slightly in May with notable falls in production and construction, only partially offset by growth in services.

However, across the latest three months as a whole, the economy still grew. This reflected strength earlier in the year that resulted, in part, from some activity being brought forward to February and March.

“May’s fall in production was driven by oil and gas extraction, car manufacturing and the often-erratic pharmaceutical industry.

“While services grew overall in May with a strong month for legal firms, which recovered from a weak April, and computer programming, these were partially offset by a very weak month for retail sales.”

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