It is the area of consumption that has suffered most from the budget decisions of the French. Boosted to new heights by the Covid-19 crisis and households' retreat to the home, the home furnishings sector (furniture and electrical appliances) had a difficult year in 2024.

At a press conference on Tuesday, February 11, the furniture industry, one of the hardest hit by the current economic situation, shared the view. The main cause was the halt in real estate transactions, which is a driving force behind furniture and household appliance purchases. Added to this were the budgetary constraints of the French and the wait-and-see attitude of consumers linked to the political and geopolitical context.

From ovens to dishwashers, refrigerators, sofas and beds, in 2024, virtually all home furnishings saw their sales plummet. After a slight decline in 2023, the furniture market recorded a 5.1% drop in value year-on-year, to €13.8 billion, according to the Confédération Nationale de l'Equipement du Foyer (distributors), Ameublement Français (manufacturers) and the Institut de Prospective et d'Etude de l'Ameublement on Tuesday. In detail, bedding (-2.1%) fared better than upholstered seating (-4%), furniture (-5.3%), kitchens (-6.2%) and bathroom furniture (-7.2%).

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