by Year-to-date activity for the first 10 months of 2025 shows some resilience in spite of broader economic issues such as tariffs and slow housing sales
WASHINGTON — With the recent release of October 2025 retail sales data, we not only got to see furniture store sales for the month of October, but also for the first 10 months of the year.
As we reported Dec. 16, year-over-year furniture store sales grew only by .5%, making it one of the slowest-growing sectors. The only sector that was lower in comparison was building material and garden and equipment supplies dealers, down 4.5% compared with October 2024.
By comparison, overall retail sales grew 3.5% during the same period.
It was also lower than September 2025 furniture store sales growth, which was just 1.2% above sales a year earlier, in September 2024, signaling a weaker-than-hoped-for Labor Day sales period.
Still, for the first 10 months of the year, furniture store sales were up 3.8%, compared with the same period a year earlier, totaling $112 billion. This compares with the $7.1 trillion in retail sales overall for the first 10 months of the year, up 4% compared with the same period a year earlier.
Other sectors that exceeded furniture store sales growth for the 10-month period were miscellaneous store retailers such as pet supply stores, religious supply stores and florists, up 8.5% to $147.5 billion; non-store retailers such as e-commerce platforms and catalogs, up 7.2% to $1.2 trillion; health and beauty stores, up 7.1% to $391.2 billion; restaurants and bars, up 5.5% to $984.8 billion; clothing and clothing accessories stores, up 5.2% to $247.3 billion; and motor vehicle and parts dealers, up 4.7% to $1.4 trillion.
Trailing behind furniture stores in 10-month growth were food and beverage stores, up 2.7% to $828.2 billion; general merchandise stores, up 2.2% to $747.2 billion (this was dragged down by department stores, which were down 1.8% to $28.9 billion); sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument and bookstores, up 1.3% to $76 billion; and electronics and appliance stores, up .7% to $72.6 billion.
Reporting decreases for the period included building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers, down 1.4% to $406 billion, and gasoline stations, down 2% to $523.3 billion.
In terms of overall sales volume, furniture stores ranked at No. 11 out of 13 sectors tracked by the U.S. government, above only electronics and appliance stores ($72.6 billion) and sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument and bookstores ($76 billion).
It fell below the following segments: miscellaneous store retailers ($147.5 billion); clothing and clothing accessories stores, ($247.4 billion); health and beauty stores ($391.2 billion); building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers ($406 billion); gasoline stations ($523.3 billion); general merchandise stores ($747.2 billion); food and beverage stores ($838.2 billion); restaurants and bars ($984.9 billion); non-store retailers ($1.2 trillion); and motor vehicle and parts dealers ($1.4 trillion).
While furniture is largely a higher ticket item, the numbers above show it still represents a lower overall place in the ranking, largely because consumers often don’t replace their furniture for longer periods than other necessities. Even some car purchases may occur more frequently.
Note: As this data came out about two and a half weeks after the September numbers were released, we also tracked year-to-date activity for the first nine months or third-quarter period ending Sept. 30.
Below is a summary of that analysis:
During that period ending Sept. 30, sales totaled $101.3 billion, up 4.7% year to date. This compares with overall retail sales of $6.4 trillion, up 4% year to date.
Areas that exceeded furniture store sales growth included miscellaneous store retailers such as florists, pet supply stores and religious supply stores, up 8.4% to $131.2 billion; health and personal care stores, up 7.1% to $349 billion; non-store retailers such as e-commerce specialists and catalog specialists, up 7% to $1 billion; restaurants and bars, up 5.7% to $885.4 billion; clothing and clothing accessories stores, up 5.2% to $221.7 billion; and motor vehicle and parts dealers, up 5.1% to $1.3 billion.
Other sectors that posted a year-to-date increase included food and beverage stores, up 2.7% to $752.3 billion; general merchandise stores, up 2.2% to $669.1 billion; sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument and bookstores, up .7% to $67.9 billion; and electronics and appliance stores, up .1% to $64.9 billion.
Trending in negative territory for the first nine months are building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers, down .9% to $363.8 billion, and gasoline stations, down 2.4% to $468.8 billion.
In terms of overall year-to-date sales volume for the first nine months of the year, furniture stores ranked at No. 10 on the list of 13 retail segments tracked by the U.S. government, at $101.3 billion. The segment placed above sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument and bookstores at $67.9 billion, and electronics and appliance stores at $64.9 billion.
Ranking above furniture store sales in terms of overall sales are miscellaneous store retailers at $131.2 billion; clothing and clothing accessories stores at $221.7 billion; health and personal care stores at $349 billion; building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers at $363.7 billion; gasoline stations at $468.8 billion; general merchandise stores, including department stores, $669.1 billion; food and beverage stores, $752.3 billion; restaurants and bars, at $884.5 billion; and non-store retailers at $1.1 billion.
