by Sales were down 5.6% from February 2025 and also were down 1% from January
WASHINGTON — Year-over-year furniture store sales fell for the sixth month in a row as consumers focused their attention on other segments of the economy including clothing, hobbies and dining out.
Figures released by the U.S. Department of Commerce Wednesday showed furniture store sales declined 5.6% to $10.9 billion, from $11.5 billion in February 2025. They also were down 1% from $11 billion in January.
Overall retail sales totaled $738.4 billion, up 3.7% from $711.9 billion in February 2025 and .6% from $734 billion in January.
Following January’s 4% year-over-year decline, the furniture retail sector saw sales down 4.8% year-to-date for the first two months of the year, marking a significant shift from last year as sales continue to rise before tariffs had an impact on pricing.
The larger 5.6% drop in January highlighted the sector’s challenges amid competition from spending in other areas of the economy. For example, in terms of growth, sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument and bookstores were up 11.3% to $8.5 billion, followed by miscellaneous store retailers such as religious supply stores, pet supply stores and florists, which were up 10.2% to $15.9 billion in February.
Other areas that saw growth were non-store retailers including e-commerce specialists and catalog businesses, up 7.5% to $132.8 billion; clothing and clothing accessories stores, up 7.2% to $27.5 billion; restaurants and bars, up 5.2% to $100.1 billion; electronics and appliance stores, up 4.7% to $7.9 billion; motor vehicle and parts dealers, up 4% to $139.4 billion; and building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers, up 3.8% to $41.2 billion.
Also, health and personal care stores were up 2.6% to $39.9 billion, and general merchandise stores were up 1.2% to $77.6 billion.
Showing a decline compared with February 2025 were food and beverage stores, down .3% to $84.2 billion, and gasoline stations, down .7% to $52.4 billion.
The 5.6% decline in furniture store sales was the most dramatic of those areas surveyed by the government. In terms of dollars spent, it also was the third lowest area of spending, following sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument and bookstores and electronics and appliance stores.
While not unusual in overall spending, this illustrates priority areas for consumers although some of the larger category of e-commerce businesses and catalogs could also include some furniture sales.
For the first two months of the year, furniture retail also saw the largest decline in spending on a percentage basis — 4.8%, compared with a 1.3% decline at gasoline stations. All other sectors tracked by the U.S. government saw an increase for the first two months of the year, led by miscellaneous store retailers, up 11.6%, and sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument and bookstores, up 9.2%.
