by Consumer spending continues to hold up amid slow housing market and concerns over tariffs
WASHINGTON — Furniture store sales rose 4.5% from June 2024, continuing a winning streak that started back in September and has held up each month since amid a still-slow housing market and concerns about tariffs.
Furniture store sales totaled $11.5 billion in June, compared with nearly $11 billion in June 2024. They were down .1%, from $11.54 billion in May.
Year-over-year retail sales were up 3.9%, totaling $720.1 billion, compared with $692.9 billion in June 2024. They were up .6% from $692.7 billion in May.
Other sectors that were up year over year included miscellaneous store retailers such as pet supply stores, religious supply stores and florists, up 8.5% to $14.8 billion, from $13.7 billion; health and personal care stores, up 8.3% to $39 billion, from $36.1 billion; restaurants and bars, up 6.6% to $98.7 billion, from $92.7 billion; motor vehicle and parts dealers, up 6.5% to $136.8 billion, from $128.5 billion; and non-store retailers such as e-commerce specialists and catalogs, up 4.5% to $125.3 billion, from nearly $120 billion last year.
Other retail segments that were up were clothing and clothing accessories stores, up 3.9% to $26.3 billion, from $25.4 billion; general merchandise stores, up 3.2% to $77.3 billion, from $74.9 billion; and sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument and bookstores, up 1.6% to $8 billion, from $7.9 billion.
Down from June 2024 were gasoline stations, posting a 4.4% decrease to $50.3 billion, from $52.6 billion; building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers, down 1.1% to $40.1 billion from $40.6 billion; and electronics and appliance stores, down .2% to $7.62 billion from $7.63 billion.
While furniture store sales growth slowed from recent months, it shows that the segment is holding up amid market challenges.
Furniture store sales also remain above pre-pandemic levels, with June sales totaling $11.5 billion, compared with $9.7 billion in June 2020, $9.9 billion in 2019, $9.8 billion in 2018, $9.4 billion in 2017, $9.2 billion in 2016 and $8.9 billion in 2015.
