by WASHINGTON — Sales at furniture and home furnishings stores rose 3.8% in January over the same month last year — according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau report — an increase that trailed the majority of retail sectors.
Retail furniture sales totaled $12.25 billion, up from $11.80 billion a year ago. January sales also were up 4.4% from December 2022 sales.
Total U.S. retail and food services sales last month came in at $697.0 billion, registering a gain of 3.0% from December 2022, and a spike of 6.4% from January 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Total sales from November 2022 through January 2023 also rose 6.1% from the same period a year ago.
Retail trade sales were also up 2.3% from December 2022, and were also up just under 4% above January last year.
The year-over-year increase for furniture lagged behind sales of restaurants and bars (up 25.2% for the best sector gain), grocery stores (up 6.6%), and clothing and clothing accessories stores (up 6.3%), among other sectors. Non-store retailers, which includes e-commerce companies, posted a 3.0% YOY increase.
Electronics and appliance stores saw a 6.3% decrease from January a year ago, the only sector posting a YOY decrease. Building material and garden supplies and equipment retailers grew by 1.1%.
