June sales at home furnishings & furniture stores include an asterisk – here’s why

Washington – The CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor reported unusually large year-over-year retail sales increases in June – largely compared depressed sales in the same period last year.

Retail sales in June 2025 were pressured by consumer uncertainty in the wake of “Liberation Day” tariffs that had been announced two months earlier. Still, June 2026 retail sales climbed for the ninth month in a row  “as positive factors overcame challenges to the economy,” according to the National Retail Federation (NRF).

The Retail Monitor calculation of core retail sales (excluding restaurants , auto dealers and gas stations) was up 0.36% month over month in June and was up 10.08% year over year. That compared with increases of 0.39% month over month and 6.98% year over year in May.

June sales at furniture and home furnishings stores were down 0.16% month over month seasonally adjusted but up 4.92% year over year unadjusted. In June 2025, that segment’s sales were down 1.04% month over month seasonally adjusted and down 1.14% year over year unadjusted.

Retail Monitor figures are based on actual, anonymized credit and debit card purchase data compiled by Affinity Solutions. The U.S. Census Department’s monthly retail sales numbers are based on survey numbers.

“The summer shopping season got off to a strong start in June,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “Consumers took advantage of summer sales events, and many got an early jump on back-to-school shopping.”

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June sales were up across the board on a yearly basis, led by sporting goods, electronics and clothing stores, and were up in all but two of nine categories on a monthly basis. In addition to the performance in the furniture and home furnishings store sector, specifics from key segments include:

• Sporting goods, hobby, music and book stores were up 0.45% month over month seasonally adjusted and up 18.53% year over year unadjusted.
• Electronics and appliance stores were down 0.01% month over month seasonally adjusted but up 14.16% year over year unadjusted.
• Clothing and accessories stores were up 0.63% month over month seasonally adjusted and up 13.65% year over year unadjusted.
• Digital products (such as electronic books and games) were up 1.25% month over month seasonally adjusted and up 13.56% year over year unadjusted.
• Health and personal care stores were up 0.5% month over month seasonally adjusted and up 12.87% year over year unadjusted.
• General merchandise stores were up 0.29% month over month seasonally adjusted and up 9.9% year over year unadjusted.
• Grocery and beverage stores were up 0.25% month over month seasonally adjusted and up 5.26% year over year unadjusted.
• Building and garden supply stores were up 0.06% month over month seasonally adjusted and up 4.04% year over year unadjusted.