by This marks the 8th straight gain for the furniture segment as some consumers are buying products before tariffs take effect
WASHINGTON — Year-over-year furniture store sales had another good run in March, representing the second highest increase when compared to the performance of other sectors tallied by the U.S. government.
Furniture store sales totaled $11.7 billion, up 7.7% from $10.8 billion in March 2024. However, sales were also down slightly from February, falling .7% from $11.8 billion.
By comparison, overall retail sales totaled $734.9 billion, up 4.6% from $702.5 billion in March 2024, and up 1.4% from $724.5 billion in February.
Some of this could have to do with consumers buying goods before tariffs take effect as many have voiced concerns about the impact tariffs will have on their budgets in the future. Thus, as most higher tariffs have been delayed until early July, retail sales figures could see an additional bump over the next few months.
Regardless, the news is good for furniture stores, which have seen their eighth straight year-over-year increase since this past September.
The only other sector to have a higher percentage increase in March was motor vehicle and parts dealers, which was up 8.8% to $143.9 billion, from $132.3 billion.
The segment with the next highest level of growth was health and beauty stores, which rose 7.2% to $38.9 million from $26.3 million in March 2024.
It was followed by clothing and clothing accessories stores, up 5.4% to $26.7 billion, from $26.1 billion; restaurants and bars, up 4.8% to $98.3 billion from $93.9 billion; and non-store retailers such as pure-play e-commerce stores and catalogs, also up 4.8% to $126.9 billion, from $121 billion; miscellaneous store retailers, such as pet supply stores, florists and religious supply stores, up 4.7% to $16.2 billion, from $15.5 billion; and general merchandise stores, up 3.8% to $78 billion, from $75.2 billion. (Note that sales in the department store segment of this category were down 2.5% to $10.7 billion from $10.9 billion).
Other sectors that reported an increase were food and beverage stores, up 3.6% to $85.2 billion, from $82.3 billion; sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument and bookstores, up 2.7% to $8.4 billion, from $8.2 billion; building material and garden equipment and supply dealers, up 2.6% to $41.4 billion from $40.4 billion; and electronics and appliance stores, up 1.8% to $7.7 billion, from $7.6 billion.
Gasoline stations reported a 4.3% decrease. March sales totaled $51.5 billion, compared with $53.8 billion in March 2024.
And at $11.7 billion, furniture store sales in March remained above pre-pandemic levels of $9.9 billion in March 2019, $9.9 billion in 2018, $9.6 billion in 2017, $9.2 billion in 2016 and $8.8 billion in 2015.
