Spending Is Up. So Why Is Furniture Still Down?
Furniture store sales rose in May but stayed below a year earlier, La-Z-Boy's own stores carried a flat quarter and Bed Bath & Beyond moved into home buying.
Retail
93 stories
Why Furniture Is the One Category Retail Can't Figure Out Right Now
Most of retail grew in April 2026. Furniture stores went the other way, and the reasons ran through housing, value and the customer experience.
The Numbers Look Fine. That's the Problem.
Retail sales grew in March, helped by an early Easter, while consumer sentiment fell in April to a level comparable to the 2022 trough.
What Smart Furniture Operators Are Watching Right Now
Furniture store sales rose in March and nearly matched a year earlier, Flexsteel grew on tariff surcharges and importers lined up for refunds of struck down tariffs.
The Next Phase of Furniture Has Already Started
Furniture stores grew from a year earlier in March even as they slipped month to month, Hooker returned to profit after cutting costs and QVC moved into Chapter 11.
Furniture Retail Closures Surge as Industry Enters Reset Mode
Furniture store closings piled up in early 2026, Bed Bath & Beyond moved into home services and imports kept falling as fuel costs rose.
Why Furniture Is Lagging Behind the Broader Economy
Furniture store sales were down sharply from a year earlier in February, furniture factories contracted while manufacturing grew, Bed Bath & Beyond agreed to buy The Container Store and QVC warned about its future.
Where Smart Furniture Retailers Are Leaning In
Lovesac kept opening showrooms, MillerKnoll grew across its segments and Purple bought itself more time on its debt.
What the Latest Data Really Says About Furniture
Bob's Discount Furniture posted strong growth in its first report as a public company, Williams-Sonoma kept its comps positive and NRF forecast solid retail growth for 2026.
Six Signals Emerging Across the Furniture Business This Month
Furniture store sales were up from a year earlier in February, imports dipped as shipping risks grew, mall traffic rose, Culp narrowed its loss and American Mattress stayed in court.
Where Furniture Growth Is Actually Happening
La-Z-Boy's own stores drove its growth, Wayfair kept gaining share in a shrinking category and 2025 trade data showed sourcing shifting away from China.
Tariffs, Soft Demand, and the New Reality for Furniture
Furniture store sales fell sharply from a year earlier in December, imports were forecast to stay lower through the first half and consumer sentiment rose only slightly.
Ownership Changes, Store Closures, and a Shifting Furniture Landscape
A rent-to-own chain got a new owner, a New England furniture retailer filed to liquidate and Flexsteel grew with help from imported seating and tariff surcharges.
Soft Demand, Strong Margins, Big Decisions Ahead
Ethan Allen's orders fell sharply while its margins held, consumer confidence hit its lowest level since 2014 and a rent-to-own franchisee headed for a sale.
Why 2026 Will Reward Disciplined Furniture Retailers
Online sales kept gaining share, and a proposed 10% cap on credit card rates raised questions for stores that rely on financing to close big tickets.
Signals Every Furniture Executive Should Watch
Furniture store sales slipped in November, existing home sales hit a near three-year high in December and Wayfair helped build Google's new protocol for AI shopping.
Mixed Signals Define Furniture's Start to 2026
Holiday retail finished strong but furniture stores slipped from a year earlier, imports were set to stay soft into spring and Bob's Discount Furniture filed for an IPO.
Three Signals Furniture Leaders Should Watch in 2026
Holiday card data showed furniture lagging the rest of retail, while pending home sales jumped in November to their best level in nearly three years.
Furniture's Growth Streak Weakens as Bankruptcy Drama Unfolds
October 2025 furniture store sales barely beat the year before, while Natuzzi and Kirkland's parent showed how hard the middle of the market had become.
What November Really Told Us About Furniture's Holiday Season
Furniture stores barely moved in November while the rest of retail grew, confidence fell to its lowest since April and small businesses cut jobs.
The Winners and Losers This Season
Macy's beat its own forecast, Black Friday shoppers hunted for value and smaller baskets, and Hooker sold two casegoods brands to Magnussen.
AI, M&A, and the New Consumer Mindset
Furniture store sales edged up in September, Somnigroup made a bid for Leggett & Platt and Ashley started selling through an AI answer engine.
Restructuring, Retail Shifts, and Tariff Outlook
Value City's parent entered Chapter 11, confidence fell, builders stayed gloomy, Bed Bath & Beyond moved to buy Kirkland's parent and China tariffs eased.
Where Retailers Should Place Their Bets in the Year Ahead
Holiday weekend spending plans held up, the three big bedding companies reported very different quarters and a struggling mattress brand found a new owner.
Furniture Retail Momentum Builds as Costs and Supply Pressures Shift
Small-business sales data and a Dillard's quarter showed customers spending more per trip, even as fewer trips were made.
The Furniture Industry's "New Normal" Is Finally Here
October 2025 retail data left furniture stores behind almost every other category, AI-driven shopping traffic soared and Dorel's furniture business kept shrinking.
Inside the Numbers. How Furniture Retailers Are Winning in Uncertain Times.
Third-quarter 2025 results from Somnigroup and Arhaus, plus Wayfair's smaller store test, showed what was working as the year wound down.
Housing Up, Furniture Down. The Market's Uneasy Disconnect
In early November 2025 home sales picked up and first-time buyers hit a record low share, while home goods sellers QVC and Sleep Number kept shrinking.
What the Fall Market Reveals About Furniture's Next Chapter
At the end of October 2025, Havertys grew double digits, XPO leaned on AI to run its freight network and Amazon put AI into the buying decision.
Furniture Industry Balances Confidence, Costs, and Change Heading Into 2026
Late October 2025 brought flat consumer confidence, a strong Wayfair quarter, a shrinking Bed Bath & Beyond and softer bedding demand at Leggett & Platt.
Tariffs, Turnarounds, and Tough Choices. Furniture's New Reality
New duties began to change the math between imported and domestic furniture, and At Home came out of bankruptcy with far less debt.
Furniture Industry Braces for Shifting Ground in Q4
Furniture store spending slipped in September, builders grew more hopeful, Flexsteel kept growing and Walker Edison found a buyer.
Furniture Orders Rebound, but Tariff Pressures Keep Industry on Edge
Furniture makers reported new orders growing in September, new duties were days away, IKEA's parent bought a delivery software firm and Bed Bath & Beyond returned to stores.
Tariffs Tighten the Screws on Furniture Imports
New Section 232 duties on upholstered furniture and cabinets were a week away, while Adobe expected online holiday sales to keep growing.
Fed Rate Cut Opens Door for Furniture Financing Growth
The Fed cut rates for the first time since December, furniture store sales kept growing from a year earlier and CPSC warned about faulty tip restraints.
Tariffs Continue to Pressure Consumer Spending, Impacting Furniture
Consumer sentiment fell again in September with tariffs still on shoppers' minds, and Bed Bath & Beyond bought the Kirkland's Home brand.
Holiday Sales Slowdown, RH Surges, Hooker Struggles
A modest holiday forecast set the tone in September 2025, while RH grew at the top of the market and Hooker's import business shrank.
Mixed Signals. Furniture Orders Rise While Manufacturing Struggles
Factory activity contracted for a sixth month even as new orders turned up, hiring slowed sharply and Macy's posted its best comparable sales in three years.
De Minimis Disaster or Opportunity? Strategic Moves for Furniture Pros
Duty-free treatment for low-value parcels ended worldwide, furniture store sales kept growing, builders stayed gloomy and Leggett & Platt sold its aerospace unit.
Mixed Earnings Report. Flexsteel Soars, La-Z-Boy Declines
Flexsteel extended its growth streak, La-Z-Boy's sales slipped with Joybird down sharply, and TJX showed shoppers still hunting for home bargains.
Furniture Sales Surge 5.1% While New Glass Duties Could Hit 300% - What You Need to Know
July furniture store sales rose 5.1% from a year earlier, preliminary dumping duties hit float glass from China and Malaysia, and CEOs grew less gloomy.
90-Day Tariff Extension. What Furniture Pros Need to Know
The China tariff truce was extended to November, giving furniture importers more time, while June furniture store sales were still running ahead of a year earlier.
Furniture Grows in a Shrinking Factory Sector, HNI Agrees to Buy Steelcase, and Wayfair's Orders Get Bigger
In early August 2025, furniture stood out in a contracting factory sector, HNI agreed to buy Steelcase and Wayfair grew by selling bigger orders to fewer customers.
Furniture's New Reality. Why Every Retailer Should Brace for Higher Prices and Changing Consumer Behavior
Vietnam agreed to a 20% rate, letters set August rates for Malaysia, Cambodia and others, and Prime Day showed online shoppers buying storage furniture.
From 100-Year Legacies to 50% Tariffs. The Furniture Industry's Make-or-Break Moment
New tariff letters set an August 1 deadline, Bassett returned to an operating profit and card data showed furniture store spending slipping in June.
When Confidence Collapses. Inside the Industry's Toughest Week
Consumer confidence fell in June with expectations near recession territory, and Macy's comparable sales slipped as it kept closing stores.
Consumer Confidence Drops Below the Recession Warning Line as Home Goods Slip
Consumer confidence fell in June, Kohl's home sales kept shrinking, and existing-home sales ticked up in May as prices hit a record.
Adapt or Close. How Smart Furniture Companies Navigate Tariff Turbulence
May furniture store sales grew, Kirkland's said it would rebrand around Bed Bath & Beyond, and regulators recalled more dressers sold online.
145% Tariffs Loom as Furniture Industry Braces for August Deadline
A 90-day pause on most of the higher China tariff ran toward an August deadline, Target's sales fell, and April furniture store sales were still growing.
59% of Home Furnishings Small Business Owners See Income Cut in Half
A small business survey found most home furnishings owners earning far less than in 2024, even as Census showed furniture store sales growing.
Consumer Confidence Surges. What It Means for Furniture Sales
Consumer confidence jumped 12.3 points in May, April existing-home sales slipped as prices set a record, and Wayfair picked a site for its third big store.
The Furniture Reckoning. Reinvention or Collapse?
Beyond expanded its credit line to Kirkland's and agreed to buy its trademarks, while the U.S. and China cut tariffs for 90 days starting May 14.
Furniture Retail's People Problem. You Can't Grow If They're All Leaving
Wayfair held revenue flat in the first quarter, Sleep Number's sales fell 16%, and Havertys' sales slipped 1.3% with comparable store sales down 4.8%.
Tariffs, Tech & Tipping Points. The New Furniture Frontier
The CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor showed furniture store sales flat in March, consumer sentiment fell to 50.8, and NRF forecast May imports down 20.5%.
At the Crossroads. Retail Resilience vs. Tariff Turbulence
March retail sales rose 1.4% on pre-tariff buying, housing starts fell 11.4%, and the UK's largest homewares retailer grew sales 6.3%.
Freight's a Mess, Tariffs Are Worse. But Sales Are Up (For Now)
March retail sales jumped 1.4% as shoppers bought ahead of tariffs, furniture stores were up 7.7% from a year earlier, and J.B. Hunt's operating income fell 8%.
Consumer Confidence in the Furniture Sector. An Alarming Decline
Consumer expectations fell to 65.2, a 12-year low, Macy's home and other sales fell to $3.4 billion, and Wayfair launched a hand-tested product seal.
Navigating Uncertainty. Insights into Shaky Retail Trends in Furniture
Furniture store sales were flat in February, existing-home sales rose 4.2%, and about 28,590 dressers sold on Walmart.com were recalled for tip-over risk.
Housing Market Fluctuations and Their Implications for the Furniture Industry
February housing starts jumped 11.2% but permits were 6.8% below a year earlier, Williams-Sonoma's comparable revenue rose 3.1%, and Beyond sold Zulily.
AI, Tariffs, and Uncertain Shoppers. What's Really Driving Furniture Sales?
Furniture store sales were flat in February and up 5.5% from a year earlier, while consumer sentiment fell to 57.9 and tariffs on China doubled.
Presidential Directives. The Impending Investigation into Lumber Imports and National Security
A national security probe of lumber imports reached furniture, Target's home sales fell, and Purple opened a review of strategic alternatives.
Wayfair's $700M Bet and a Tariff Reprieve for USMCA Furniture
Wayfair planned a $700 million secured note offering to refinance convertible debt, and the White House exempted USMCA-qualifying goods from new tariffs.
Tariff Turmoil Hits Furniture as Canada, Mexico and China Duties Take Effect
Tariffs on Canada and Mexico went ahead, the China fentanyl tariff doubled to 20%, and ISM said furniture makers contracted in February.
Housing Completions Jump, Wayfair's Strategy, and HNI's Outlook
January housing completions were 9.8% above a year earlier, Wayfair's fourth-quarter revenue rose 0.2%, and HNI said its residential orders grew 8%.
Brick-and-Mortar's Big Comeback, January Sales Rise, Tariffs, & More
La-Z-Boy's retail segment sales rose 11% with written same-store sales up 7%, January furniture store sales were up 3.7% from a year earlier, and housing starts fell.
Soft 2025 Furniture Start, Tariff Shake-Up, and a Reciprocal Plan
Furniture store sales fell 1.7% in January but were up 3.7% from a year earlier, and a new memo set out a plan for reciprocal tariffs.
Kirkland's Big Deal, Flexsteel's Tariff Warning & Trump's TikTok Reprieve
Beyond completed a $25 million investment in Kirkland's, Flexsteel warned tariffs on Mexico could change its outlook, and TikTok won a 75-day reprieve.
TikTok Ban, Supply Chain Woes, and Retail Trends
The Supreme Court upheld the TikTok law, furniture store sales rose 2.3% in December, the Pentagon listed COSCO, and J.B. Hunt's final mile revenue fell 6%.
Port Strikes, Retail Shakeups, and What's Next for Manufacturers
East and Gulf Coast dockworkers reached a tentative six-year contract, Big Lots was sold out of bankruptcy, Macy's confirmed 66 closures, and EPA flagged formaldehyde.
Big Lots Store Closing Sale, Proposed Tariffs, and Consumer Confidence
Store closing sales began at all 869 Big Lots locations, tariff threats hung over 2025, and consumer confidence fell 8.1 points to 104.7 in December.
Supply Chain Woes, Housing Growth, and Market Updates
Existing-home sales jumped 4.8% in November, Big Lots said its sale to Nexus would not close, and consumer sentiment reached 74.0 in December.
Holiday Sales, a Fed Rate Cut, and Housing Completions
Furniture store sales rose 0.3% in November, the Fed cut rates by a quarter point to 4.25% to 4.5%, and housing completions were 9.2% above a year earlier.
Furniture Market Signals, Price Worries, and a Lovesac Slowdown
Consumer sentiment rose to 74.0 as buyers rushed to beat expected price hikes, November inflation was 2.7%, and Lovesac's quarterly sales fell 2.7%.
Black Friday Boom, Tariff Talks, and Furniture Retail Resilience
Holiday crowds were near record levels in late 2024, new tariffs were threatened on three trade partners, furniture stores lagged retail in November and Hooker's sales kept falling.
Supply Chain Warnings, Store Closings, and Domestic Manufacturing
Dockworker talks broke down over automation ahead of a January deadline, American Freight closed all 328 stores, and Ashley said it had invested over $2 billion.
Black Friday's Impact, Kirkland's Quarter, and Preparing for TikTok's Potential Ban
An appeals court upheld the TikTok law, Kirkland's comparable store sales rose 1.6% as e-commerce fell 14.9%, and furniture factory jobs slipped.
Holiday Sales Exceed Expectations as Furniture Stores Wait for a Lift
A record 197 million people shopped over Thanksgiving weekend, consumer confidence rose to 111.7, but furniture store sales fell 1.3% in October.
Tempur Sealy's $4B Battle, Big Lots' Next Chapter, and Macy's Mixed Results
The FTC fight over the $4 billion Mattress Firm deal went to a hearing, a court approved Big Lots' sale to Nexus, and Macy's delayed its quarterly report.
Housing Market Insights, Retail Results, and Furniture Manufacturing Shake-Ups
Housing completions ran 16.8% above a year earlier in October, Target's comparable sales rose 0.3%, and Dorel began closing an Ohio furniture plant.
Furniture Sales Above Last Year, Port Talks Stall, and Purple's Slump
Furniture store sales were 1.5% above a year earlier in October, port talks broke down over automation, and Purple's quarterly revenue fell 15.3%.
Holiday Forecasts, a Fed Rate Cut, and Mixed Results for Furniture Sellers
NRF forecast holiday sales growth of 2.5% to 3.5%, the Fed cut rates by a quarter point, and Wayfair revenue slipped 2.0% in the third quarter.
American Freight Closing All Stores, Rising Online Sales, and a Factory Slowdown
Franchise Group said it would wind down American Freight, e-commerce reached 16.0% of retail sales, and furniture makers reported falling orders.
Consumer Confidence Jumps as Furniture Retailers Report a Tough Quarter
Consumer confidence rose to 108.7 in October, its biggest gain since March 2021, while Ethan Allen and Havertys reported lower third-quarter sales.
Consumer Confidence, Third-Quarter Growth, and a Home Decor Partnership
Consumer confidence jumped to 108.7, GDP grew at a 2.8% rate in the third quarter, and Beyond lent Kirkland's $17 million in a new partnership.
Housing Lows, New Home Gains, and Wayfair's New Loyalty Program
Existing-home sales fell to 3.84 million in September, new home sales rose 4.1% to 738,000, and Wayfair launched a $29 a year rewards membership.
Furniture Sales Dip, Housing Completions Climb, and a Steady Holiday Forecast
Census showed furniture store sales down 1.4% in September, housing completions ran 14.6% above a year earlier, and NRF forecast holiday growth of 2.5% to 3.5%.
Furniture Retail Forecast. Weak September Sales, Cautious Consumers, and Big Lots' Restructuring
Furniture store sales fell 1.5% in September by NRF's card data, consumer sentiment slipped to 68.9, and Big Lots worked through its Chapter 11 sale process.
Holiday Retail Outlook, a Half-Point Rate Cut, and Housing Trends
The Fed cut rates by half a point, existing-home sales fell 2.5% in August, and Deloitte forecast holiday sales growth of 2.3% to 3.3%.
Furniture Industry News Roundup. Sales Trends, Housing Completions, and Labor Concerns
Furniture store sales fell 0.7% in August, housing completions jumped 30.2% from a year earlier, and dockworkers said an October 1 strike looked more likely.
Retail Growth, Supply Chain Strain, and Arhaus' Showroom Expansion
NRF card data showed retail sales up 0.45% in August while furniture stores slipped, dockworkers backed an October 1 strike, and Arhaus opened its 100th showroom.
Furniture Industry Insights. Fed Moves, Consumer Spending, and Big Retailer Shake-Ups
The Fed chair said the time had come for policy to adjust, consumer spending rose 0.5% in July, and Big Lots' lenders allowed up to 315 store closings.
Furniture's Rollercoaster. Growth Signs, Consumer Confidence, and Supply Chain Threats
Furniture store sales rose 0.5% in July, consumer confidence edged up to 103.3 in August, and Canada's labor board ordered a rail shutdown to end.
Growth Trends in Furniture Retail. La-Z-Boy, Target and HomeGoods Report
La-Z-Boy's sales rose 3% to $496 million, Target's comparable sales grew 2.0% on higher traffic, and HomeGoods comparable sales rose 2% in the second quarter.