Is the Consumer Really Coming Back?
Soft home goods started to recover in spring 2026. Furniture, builders and big-ticket buyers were still waiting.
Traffic Watch
16 stories
Major Furniture Manufacturer Sells in $18 Million Deal
GigaCloud agreed to buy furniture distributor New Classic Home Furnishing, while consumer sentiment stayed low and new furniture tariffs settled in.
Tariffs, Trucking, and Tight Space. The Pressure Points Ahead
A federal rule threatened to shrink the truck driver pool, holiday budgets held up and new duties on furniture and cabinets took effect.
Furniture Industry Under Pressure. Tariffs, Confidence, and Consolidation
New furniture tariffs were set for mid-October, consumer confidence slipped again and two office furniture makers agreed to combine.
Industry Shakeup. Major Bankruptcies, Recalls, and Tariff Turmoil
An appeals court ruled against the IEEPA tariffs but left them in place for now, confidence dipped, a dresser recall hit Amazon and Walker Edison filed Chapter 11.
Consumer Confidence Stabilizes, But Should Furniture Pros Celebrate?
Consumer confidence edged up in July but expectations stayed low, Beyond shifted toward growth, and the mattress makers told two very different stories.
Retail's Hard Truth. Value Is King
Housing completions fell sharply in June, contrary to early reports, while back-to-school shoppers started early and hunted for deals.
Industry Meltdown. Why Your Furniture Prices Are About to Skyrocket
Tariff letters set new August rates, consumer expectations sank, importers rushed goods in before the deadline and furniture store sales were still growing.
Furniture Under Fire. Tariffs, Tech & the Race to Adapt
Customs tightened the window for goods in transit under the April tariffs, and consumer confidence rebounded sharply in May after the China pause.
Falling Confidence, Rising Home Contracts, and Soft Freight at the End of April
Consumer expectations hit their lowest since 2011, pending home sales jumped 6.1% in March, and XPO's freight tonnage fell 7.5% as industrial demand stayed soft.
This Business Doesn't Sit Still!
Consumer sentiment fell to 50.8 with inflation expectations at a 1981 high, a lumber investigation put furniture in scope, and Lovesac's sales slipped.
Home Sales, Confidence & Tariff Talks
Pending home sales fell to a record low of 70.6, new home sales dropped 10.5% in January, and consumer confidence had its sharpest fall since August 2021.
Steel Tariffs, Tariff Tensions, Inflation, and More
Steel and aluminum tariffs were restored at 25%, January consumer prices rose 0.5%, and household furnishings prices fell for the month.
2025 Retailer Outlook as Consumer Confidence Slips and Home Sales Rise
Consumer confidence fell to 104.1 in January, December existing-home sales rose 9.3% from a year earlier, and Ethan Allen reported a profitable holiday quarter.
Tariff Threats, Consumer Confidence, Housing Rebound, and Sleep Number's Power Struggle
New tariffs were threatened on Canada, Mexico and China, consumer confidence rose to 111.7, existing-home sales rose 3.4%, and Sleep Number's top holder pushed for change.
Rate Cuts, Falling Confidence, and Port Strikes. What's Ahead for Furniture Retail
The Fed cut rates by half a point, consumer confidence fell to 98.7 in its largest drop since August 2021, and dockworkers prepared to strike on October 1.