Consumer card spending in furniture stores fell during March when compared to last year, says new data from Barclays.

According to the latest Barclays Consumer Spending Index, which includes both debit and credit cards, furniture store spending growth decreased -2.9%, while transaction growth was down -2.2% against the same month last year.

Home improvement and DIY stores saw spending growth decline -2.5%, with transaction growth down -4.2%. Department stores saw spending growth increase 0.5%, with transaction growth up by 2.7%, while garden centres saw spending growth rise 2%, with transaction growth up by 1.8%.

Overall, consumer card spending increased 0.9 per cent year-on-year in March, down from February (1.0 per cent) and less than the latest CPIH inflation rate of 3.4 per cent. Essential spending returned to growth (up 0.5 per cent) for the first time since July 2025 (0.3 per cent) as fuel prices surged, while discretionary spend growth slowed to 1.1 per cent, with travel in decline (-3.3 per cent) for the first time since 2021.

Karen Johnson, Head of Retail at Barclays, said: “March’s figures may highlight some differences between how consumers feel and how they actually spend. Cost-of-living concerns and economic uncertainty continue to weigh on confidence, prompting caution and a desire to cut back, but spending remains resilient across several categories. Many are once again carefully managing their money while finding ways to prioritise the things that matter the most to them – an ongoing balancing act.”