Consumer card spending in furniture stores rose during November 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 increased 6.8%, while transaction growth was up 1.2% against the same month last year.

Home improvement and DIY stores saw spending growth decline -3%, with transaction growth down -6.4%. Department stores saw spending growth decrease -8.2%, with transaction growth down by -6.4%.

Discount stores saw a decrease of -8.3% in spend growth, while transaction growth was down -9.7%, and garden centres experienced an increase of 1.5% in spend growth, while a decline of -0.7% in transaction growth.

Overall, consumer card spending declined -1.1 per cent year-on-year in November – the greatest fall recorded since February 2021 (-9.5 per cent), and considerably lower than the latest CPIH inflation rate of 3.8 per cent. Amid ongoing consumer uncertainty, essential spend dropped -2.9 per cent, marking seven consecutive months of decline, while non-essential spending fell (-0.3 per cent) for the first time since July 2024. 

Overall retail spending dipped -1.1 per cent in November, however retailers enjoyed their busiest day of the year so far on Black Friday (28th), with transaction volumes up 62.5 per cent in comparison to the average day in 2025.

Karen Johnson, Head of Retail at Barclays, said: “November was a month marked by uncertainty, as consumers were awaiting seasonal discounts and the details of the Autumn Budget. Retailers will have welcomed the Black Friday boost they received, which will hopefully set the tone in the run up to Christmas.”