Furniture prices rose slightly again in March while carpets declined as overall inflation eased once more.
According to the latest Office for National for National Statistics (ONS) data, the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rose by 2.6% in the 12 months to March 2025, down from 2.8% in the 12 months to February. On a monthly basis, CPI rose by 0.3% in March 2025, compared with a rise of 0.6% in March 2024.
The largest downward contributions to the monthly change in both CPIH and CPI annual rates came from recreation and culture, and motor fuels, with a further large downward effect in CPIH from housing and household services; the largest, partially offsetting, upward contribution came from clothing.
For furniture, furnishings and carpets, the combined figure saw prices rise 0.2% month-on-month, while on the last year prices were up compared to its fall of 1.4%. Sectors within the category are detailed below.
Furniture and furnishing prices rose by 0.9% in March, compared to a rise of 0.9% in April, while up from a 2.3% fall compared to the same month last year.
The retail price of household furniture increased by 1.2% in the month, up from a rise of 1.1%, while also up from a decline of 2.4% last year.
Garden furniture prices fell 11.6%, compared to a fall of 11.5% on last month, and from a decline of 0.7% compared to last year.
Carpets and other floorcoverings prices fell 1.8%, compared to a fall of 1.7% the previous month, while down from a 2.5% uptick last year.
Other household textile prices, including furnishings fabrics, curtains and bedding, saw prices rise by 1.2%, higher than its rise of 1% the previous month, while down from a rise of 1.9% on last year.
Commenting on the inflation figures for March, ONS Chief Economist Grant Fitzner said: “Inflation eased again in March, driven by a variety of factors including falling fuel prices and unchanged food costs compared with the price rises we saw this time last year.
“The only significant offset came from the price of clothes, which rose strongly this month, following the unusual decrease in February.”
