March Brings Modest Sales Growth for Home Furnishings and Furniture Retailers
Washington Home furnishings and furniture retailers experienced a slight sales boost in March, signaling a stabilizing trend in the sector as overall U.S. retail activity showed signs of recovery after two consecutive months of decline. The latest data from the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor, which analyzes credit and debit card transaction information from Affinity Solutions, reported that sales at home furnishings and furniture stores inched up by 0.01% month-over-month on a seasonally adjusted basis and rose 1.81% compared to the same period last year on an unadjusted basis.
Core retail sales which exclude spending at restaurants, auto dealerships, and gasoline stations also showed improvement, increasing by 0.4% from February and 5.07% year-over-year. This was a clear rebound from the 0.22% month-over-month decline recorded in February, which had raised concerns across retail sectors.
Despite healthy economic fundamentals, consumer sentiment remained cautious due to ongoing uncertainty around tariffs. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), much of the consumer activity in March occurred before the announcement of sweeping tariff hikes by President Trump. NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay noted that this preemptive purchasing behavior may have contributed to the March uptick, as consumers attempted to avoid future price hikes.
Shay stated, “The pullback we’ve seen the past few months comes despite strong economic fundamentals. A major factor appears to be the uncertainty caused by tariffs. March’s increase is partly the result of consumers stocking up to get ahead of potential price hikes. With the economic outlook unclear and the situation fluid, many shoppers are shifting disposable income into savings.”
This perspective was further supported by findings from a survey conducted by NRF in collaboration with Prosper Insights & Analytics, which revealed that 46% of consumers reported purchasing household appliances, clothing, and other items in early March out of concern that rising tariffs would make them more expensive later.
Across the broader retail landscape, various sectors displayed mixed performance. Digital product retailers led the growth, while general merchandise, sporting goods, and apparel also saw increases compared to last year. Electronics and appliance stores experienced a slight decline in monthly sales, though they maintained healthy year-over-year growth. Health and personal care stores also dipped on a monthly basis but posted gains annually. Meanwhile, building and garden supply stores saw a decline from February but still managed a modest year-over-year increase.
While the home furnishings segment’s growth in March was modest, it reflects a degree of resilience and cautious optimism within the market. As inflationary pressures and tariff-related uncertainties continue to influence consumer behavior, retailers in the home and lifestyle space are closely monitoring evolving trends heading into the second quarter of the year.
