Report Summary

Period covered: 03 August - 30 August 2025

3 minute read

Note: This report summary is one or two months behind the current month as standard reporting practice. The content is indicative only and incomplete with certain data undisclosed. Become a member to access this data or take out a free 30 day membership trial now.

DIY & Gardening Sales

DIY & Gardening sales rose by xx% year-on-year in August, easing on July’s performance but marking the fifth positive month out of the last six.

This steady momentum suggests households are continuing to prioritise smaller-scale projects and garden upgrades, with spending supported by stable housing transactions and seasonal weather patterns.

Key trading themes and drivers

Warm, settled conditions in the first half of August encouraged outdoor activity, lifting sales of gardening and outdoor living products early in the month. Watering equipment, barbecues, and garden furniture saw steady demand, while late-summer clearance sales helped shift stock.

As evenings shortened, and temperatures cooled,  focus turned indoors to prepare homes for autumn.

Promotional activity was also a driver, as retailers leaned on price-led campaigns to clear seasonal lines.

Garden centre boost

Garden centres reported steady growth in August, with sales up xx% year-on-year, according to the HTA. Performance was underpinned by strong demand in categories such as bulbs (+xx%), indoor living (+xx%) and garden furniture (+xx%), offsetting weakness in more discretionary outdoor products (-xx%).

However, much of the uplift reflects price inflation rather than higher volumes, with transactions broadly flat but average spend rising. Catering remained resilient, providing a stable revenue stream as consumers moderated retail spend.

Overall, the sector retains a strong year-to-date lead following a buoyant spring, though momentum into autumn will be influenced by consumer confidence and fiscal headwinds ahead of the Autumn Budget.

Housing market activity

Housing activity continued to provide a modest lift for DIY with Halifax reporting house prices rose by xx% year-on-year in August. New homeowners often invest in renovations, while households delaying moves due to high mortgage costs have instead focused on upgrading existing spaces.

This shift has supported steady demand for paint, flooring, and low-ticket home improvement products. However, spend from DIYers remains concentrated on smaller projects, reflecting cost caution.

Macroeconomic backdrop

Consumer confidence rose to –xx in August, the highest since late 2024, supported by the Bank of England’s rate cut in early August. This provided some short-term relief, though concerns about inflation and looming tax rises kept sentiment fragile.

Inflation remained elevated at xx% in August, with food inflation edging higher to xx%. For DIY and gardening, this meant customers prioritised practical upgrades and promotions over big-ticket purchases.

Credit costs stayed high, with credit card rates above xx% and mortgage affordability stretched even after the rate cut. That said, the easing in base rates offered some relief for households on variable-rate mortgages, which may filter into discretionary home spending later this year.

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DIY & Gardening sales ease in August