by Report also shows a slight drop from December, suggesting consumers were closing their wallets after a period of holiday spending
WASHINGTON — Furniture store sales were up nearly 2.4% from January 2025, but down .31% compared to December 2025, according to the latest CNBC/NFR Retail Monitor released Thursday by the National Retail Federation.
This compares with a 5.72% year-over-year gain and .2% increase from December for retail sales overall, the report said, noting that this compared with increases of 3.54% year over year in December and 1.26% month over month from November. These figures exclude automobile dealers and gasoline stations.
Core retail sales, which exclude restaurants as well as auto dealers and gas stations, were up 5.51% year over year and 0.15% month over month in January, compared with increases of 3.58% year over year and 1.6% month over month in December.
The month-over-month figures are seasonally adjusted, accounting for typical seasonal changes related to weather, holidays and other factors during the year that would impact sales activity. The year-over-year figures are not seasonally adjusted meaning they represent raw sales numbers that don’t account for typical seasonal fluctuations.
“Consumers demonstrated continued resilience in January, showing moderate spending growth on the heels of record-high spending during the holiday season,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said, noting that this was the fourth consecutive month that sales rose from the month before, while year-over-year gains also “were particularly strong. Consumer spending continues to drive the broader economy forward, supported by healthy household finances and real wage gains that have increased purchasing power. Retailers are doing their part by leveraging supply chains and new technologies to ensure that products remain affordable for American families.”
The report said that January sales were up in all but one of nine categories on a yearly basis. This was led by clothing stores, digital products and health and personal care stores. They were also up in four categories on a monthly basis.
Below is an overview by retail segment.
+ Clothing and accessories stores were up 9.39% year over year unadjusted and up .23% month over month seasonally adjusted.
+ Digital products including electronic books and games were up 6.45% unadjusted and were up 1.22% month over month seasonally adjusted.
+ Health and personal care stores were up 5.98% unadjusted and were up 0.66% month over month seasonally adjusted.
+ General merchandise stores were up 5.46% year over year unadjusted and down 0.05% month over month seasonally adjusted.
+ Grocery and beverage stores were up 5.41% year over year unadjusted and were up .37% month over month seasonally adjusted.
+ Sporting goods, hobby, music and book stores were up 4.94% year over year unadjusted and down 0.37% month over month seasonally adjusted.
+ Electronics and appliance stores were up 2.54% unadjusted and down .18% month over month seasonally adjusted.
+ Furniture and home furnishings stores were up 2.39% year over year unadjusted and down .31% month over month seasonally adjusted.
+ Building and garden supply stores were down 6.26% year over year unadjusted and down .15% month over month seasonally adjusted.
The month over month drop in furniture store sales in January from December could have resulted from spending fatigue from the holidays. The slight year-over-year increase, could relate to higher prices that consumers are paying because of tariffs.
That fact that it trailed behind other areas, however, suggests that consumers also delayed some spending because of a still weak housing market tied to interest rates higher than 6%, which is delaying some from moving from existing homes into new construction or other existing homes.
