by June retail data shows shoppers are still spending — but home furnishings have yet to regain momentum
WASHINGTON — While overall U.S. retail and food services sales continued to edge higher in June, furniture and home furnishings store sales remained essentially unchanged. Furniture and home furnishings store sales totaled $11.323 billion on a seasonally adjusted basis in June, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The category was essentially flat from May, when sales totaled $11.326 billion, reflecting a decline of less than 0.1%.
On a year-over-year basis, furniture and home furnishings store sales were also essentially unchanged, suggesting the category has stabilized but has not returned to sustained growth.
The results highlight the home furnishings industry’s ongoing challenges, as consumers continue to be selective about larger discretionary purchases. While consumers continue spending across other areas of retail, as reflected in the data, demand for furniture and home-related goods has yet to show meaningful momentum. For furniture retailers, the June results reinforce the importance of creating value for shoppers who remain hesitant about larger purchases.
The furniture and home furnishings category continued to lag broader retail performance, with overall U.S. retail and food services sales rising 0.2% in June, according to the Census Bureau’s advance retail sales report.
Looking at the broader retail landscape, however, consumers have not stopped spending altogether. Among the strongest-performing retail sectors in June were auto and other motor vehicle dealers, which posted a 2% increase from May. Non-store retailers, which include e-commerce, rose 1.9%, while sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument and bookstores increased 1.3%. Electronics and appliance stores also recorded growth, rising 0.8%.
The continued strength of non-store retailers also highlights the importance of digital channels in today’s retail environment. While furniture purchases often involve longer consideration cycles because of their size and cost, consumers continue to use online channels to research products, compare prices and complete purchases.
Among the largest declines in June were gasoline stations, where sales fell 5.3% from May, followed by health and personal care stores, down 0.8%. Grocery stores declined 0.4%, while miscellaneous store retailers slipped 0.3%
