With the increase achieved in July, cumulative turnover of the German furniture industry over the first seven months of the year again approached the previous year’s level. Following a decrease of 1.8% in the first half of the year, statistics compiled each month by the Verband der Deutschen Möbelindustrie (VDM) on the basis of data provided by the Federal Statistical Office (Wiesbaden), record a 0.8% decrease to €10.340bn to the end of July. The miscellaneous furniture, upholstery furniture and mattresses subdivisions remained slightly below the preceding year’s figures in each case; in the other divisions, by contrast, increases were recorded. The shop/contract furniture division, at an increase of 3.3% to €1.077bn (domestic turnover +6.2% to €801.1m, export turnover -4.4% to €275.4m) developed along the most positive lines. The office furniture industry was also able to offset the decline in export business with domestic turnover (total +1.0% to €1.284bn, domestic +2.0% to €1.009bn, export -2.8% to €274.0m). The kitchen furniture industry, in contrast, developed along better lines with regard to export turnover (total +2.6% to €2.921bn, domestic +1.0% to €1.697bn, export +5.0% €1.224bn).

In July turnover in the furniture industry increased by 6.0% to a total of €1.428bn. Domestic business, at an increase of 6.4% to €938.3m, developed along slightly better lines than exports, which improved by 5.2% to €489.5m. The increase achieved overall, according to VDM, is mainly due to the fact that there has been one working day more this year than in July 2018. The different number of working days had already led to relatively significant fluctuations in turnover in previous months. In June turnover declined by 13.7% to €1.383bn; for May VDM recorded an increase of 7.5% to €1.550bn.