by Electronics and appliance stores, followed by restaurants and bars and health and beauty stores, all posted double-digit gains during the period
WASHINGTON — Year-over-year furniture store sales fell again in November, marking ongoing sluggish demand in the sector compared to other segments of the economy.
On Thursday, the Department of Commerce reported that furniture store sales totaled $10.7 billion, compared to $11.6 billion in November 2022, a 7.3% drop. Overall retail sales rose 4.1% to $705.7 billion, from $677.9 billion in November 2022.
November furniture store sales rose .9% from $10.6 billion in October, while overall retail sales rose .3% from $703.7 billion.
Once again, furniture stores were among the worst performing sectors in year-over-year sales, falling only behind gasoline stations, where sales fell 9.4% to $54.4 billion, from $60.1 billion in November 2022.
In order, the biggest year-over-year sales gains occurred at electronics and appliance stores, which posted a 12% increase, to $7.8 billion, from $6.9 billion in November 2022; restaurants and bars, which posted an 11.3% gain to $94.7 billion, from $85.1 billion last November; health and personal care stores, where sales rose 10.9% to $37.8 billion, from $34.1 billion in November 2022; nonstore retailers including pure-play e-commerce players and catalogs, where sales rose 10.6% to $118.5 billion, from $107.2 billion.
Motor vehicle and parts dealers had a 6.1% increase to $134.5 billion, from $126.8 billion in November 2022; miscellaneous store retailers such as pet stores and religious merchandise stores, saw sales rise 4.5%, to $15.4 billion, from $14.7 billion last November; clothing and clothing accessories stores, experienced a 1.3% increase to $26.1 billion, from $25.8 billion; general merchandise stores, including department stores, saw sales rise 1.1% to $72.9 billion, from $72.1 billion in November 2021.
Meanwhile, food and beverage stores including grocery stores, saw sales rise .4% to $82.8 billion, from $82.5 billion, and sporting goods, hobby and musical instrument and bookstores saw sales rise .2% to $8.63 billion from $8.61 billion in November 2022.
At building materials and garden equipment and supplies dealers, sales fell 2.5% to $41.3 billion, from $42.4 billion in November 2022.
The nearly 1% gain at furniture stores in November from October could signify a spike that occurred during Black Friday sales, some of which started a week or so before Black Friday.
But that along with any boost from Labor Day sales could be negligible for the entire year. According to the DOC numbers, furniture store sales are still 5.5% down for the first 11 months of the year.
However, furniture store sales also continue to trend above pre-pandemic levels. For example, the $10.74 billion reported for November was above the $10.2 billion and $9.9 billion reported in November 2019 and November 2018 respectively.
