Consumer card spending in furniture stores rose during 2025 when compared to last year, says new data from Barclays.
According to the latest Barclays Consumer Spending Index, which includes both debit and credit cards, furniture store spending growth increased 4.3%, while transaction growth was up 0.5% against last year.
Home improvement and DIY stores saw spending growth decline -2.3%, with transaction growth down -6.8%. Department stores saw spending growth decrease -6%, with transaction growth down by -2.5%.
Discount stores saw a decrease of -4% in spend growth, while transaction growth was down -4.2%, and garden centres experienced an increase of 4.6% in spend growth, while an uptick of 1.5% in transaction growth.
Commenting on furniture, Barclays said: “Furniture stores grew 4.3 per cent overall, having declined -2.2 per cent in 2024, as consumers invested in their living spaces, five years on from the pandemic. Spending at furniture stores grew in each month of 2025, the most sustained growth for the category since 2020. This trend was partly driven by new homeowners and their desire for “pick-me-up” purchases that enhance comfort at home.
“Furniture stores enjoyed a particularly strong month in June, up 8.2 per cent, after a record number of mortgage completions took place in March 2025, ahead of April’s stamp duty changes. Similarly, garden centres, which fell -2.4 per cent in 2024, saw strong growth of 4.6 per cent year-on-year as buyers looked for ways to spruce up their outdoor areas.”
Overall, consumer card spending declined -0.2 per cent year-on-year in 2025, after growing 1.6 per cent in 2024 and 4.1 per cent in 2023. In a year marked by careful and considered budgeting, confidence in household finances consistently exceeded confidence in the economy. Some non-essential categories, such as beauty, travel and entertainment, bucked the general trends, as shoppers once again prioritised affordable treats and experiences that bring them joy.
Karen Johnson, Head of Retail at Barclays, said: “While confidence in the UK economy has declined, UK households’ confidence in their ability to manage their money has remained strong, translating into the resilient performance of categories such as travel, entertainment and beauty. It is encouraging to see that through purposeful spending, consumers continue to prioritise the things that bring them joy, unlocking the potential for UK economic growth.”
