The rate of furniture production during March 2026 registered a slight monthly increase, while the value in domestic goods also rose on the previous month.
According to the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) data, the rate of furniture production rose marginally by 0.1% compared to February, while down 2.7% on March last year.
The value of the manufacture of furniture resulted at £958.7m, up 11.5% from £859.8m the prior month. Against the same period last year, the value increased 4.7% from £914.8m.
As for the value of furniture manufacturer exports, this increased 3.9% to £49.5m for the month from £47.6m. Against last year, exports value declined 1% from £50m.
The value of domestic furniture manufacture increased 11.9% to £909.2m from £812.2m in the month, while up 5.1% from £864.8m last year.
Overall, monthly GDP grew by 0.3% in March 2026, following a growth of 0.4% in February 2026 and no growth in January 2026. Over a three-month period, GDP grew by 0.6%, following a growth of 0.5% in the three months to February 2026 and a growth of 0.4% in the three months to January 2026.
Commenting on the GDP figures for Q1, ONS Director of Economic Statistics Liz McKeown said: “Growth picked up in the first quarter of the year, led by broad-based increases across the services sector. Within that wholesale, computer programming and advertising performed particularly well.
“Production also grew slightly, while construction returned to growth, though only partly reversing weakness at the end of last year.”
