What the latest data shows: furniture makers' costs rose 0.9% in the 3 months to August 2026, about as much as inflation over the same months (0.8%); furniture and appliance shops sold 2.4% less in volume than a year earlier (August 2026); fewer households than in 2015-2019 said they plan a big purchase (survey score -24.8 against a 2015-2019 average of 11.9; September 2026).
Corrected on October 21, 2026: the general-prices figure now covers the same 3 months as the cost figure, to August 2026; it was shown for the 3 months to September 2026.
The cost pressure on makers and the official price figures, without a forecast colour: for Germany, our tests found the colour picked out the unusual months no better than chance.
Household furniture: cost and official prices, last 3 months
Cost increase The measured rise in this category's production costs over the last 3 months: a weighted average of official price series (materials, labour, and import prices or the exchange rate), using cost shares we assume. It is the maker's cost, not a shelf price; shop prices are measured and shown separately. How to read →computed, mean of 4 categories+0.9%
Inflation The rise in general consumer prices over the same 3 months. A category's costs may have risen faster or slower; this shows the past only. How to read →general prices+0.8%
Shop prices (official) Official consumer price index change for household furniture over the last 3 months: a measurement of the prices paid in shops. It is a different thing from the cost bar; we draw no cause-and-effect link between the two. They are prices measured in the past, not a forecast. In the US the index is “furniture and bedding” and includes mattresses. How to read →household furniture, consumer price index (September 2026)-0.1%
-1012
Cost shows the makers' expense, the official price shows the shop price; they are different things.
On a 1,000 € sofa that is about 9 € of extra cost in 3 months; inflation over the same time adds 8 €.
Biggest movers: Foam and plastics +1.9% · Lumber and wood +1.4% · Textiles +1.0%
Major appliances: cost and official prices, last 3 months
Cost increaseThe measured rise in this category's production costs over the last 3 months: a weighted average of official price series (materials, labour, and import prices or the exchange rate), using cost shares we assume. It is the maker's cost, not a shelf price; shop prices are measured and shown separately. How to read →makers' computed cost+1.1%
Inflation The rise in general consumer prices over the same 3 months. A category's costs may have risen faster or slower; this shows the past only. How to read →general prices+0.8%
Shop prices (official) Official consumer price indices for two groups of large appliances. Kitchen appliances (refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, cookers, ovens, hobs) form one index; laundry appliances (washing machines, dryers) another. They are prices measured in the past, not a forecast. The subgroups move more from month to month than the total, partly because of sales, so the 12-month change is the steadier figure. How to read →total, includes heaters and air conditioners; consumer price index (September 2026)-0.8%
Kitchen appliancesrefrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, cookers, ovens and hobs in one index-1.0%
Laundry applianceswashing machines and dryers-1.3%
-2-1012
Cost shows the makers' expense, the official price shows the shop price; they are different things.
What pushed prices up and what held them back
Shop prices depend on production costs, but also on how much people buy and on the exchange rate. Import prices are already part of the cost figure above. These are the latest measured figures sorted by the way they point; each row shows its own month. They do not say what prices will do next.
▲ Pushing prices up
Costs of furniture makers +0.9% on average over the 3 months to August 2026; general prices +0.8% over the same time. The breakdown is above.
▼ Holding prices back
Sales in furniture and appliance shops -2.4% in volume over 12 months (August 2026). Usually between -1.4% and +3.5% in 2015-2019.
Households planning a big purchase fewer than in 2015-2019 (survey score -24.8; 2015-2019 average 11.9; September 2026). Usually between 9.3 and 13.9 in 2015-2019.
– Within the usual range
Close to their usual level: this period they are not clearly pushing prices up or holding them back.
Euro against the dollar -1.9% over 12 months (September 2026); a stronger euro makes imports cheaper. Usually between -16.3% and +6.8% in 2015-2019.
Shown as context. We have not found that any of these predicts prices on its own. Each row is the latest measured figure, with its own month. "Usually between" is the range where the middle 80% of the 2015-2019 values lay (10th to 90th percentile), before the pandemic. A row sits under pushing or holding back only when its latest figure is outside that range; a series without such a range sits apart. The rows are context: we have not found that any of them predicts prices on its own. How to read →
Recent official decisions
Recent decisions by public bodies that affect furniture and appliance prices: interest rates, minimum wage, tax, tariffs, credit rules and energy. Each line links to the official text.
Scheduled · Applies January 1, 2027 Statutory minimum wage rises from €13.90 to €14.60 an hour (Fifth Minimum Wage Adjustment Ordinance) The minimum wage is a cost for factory, transport and shop staff. Makers and sellers can pass it on to prices over time. The same decision also raises buyers' incomes. Source: Bundesgesetzblatt 2025 I Nr. 268 ↗▲ adds to the pressure
September 16, 2026 European Central Bank raised its deposit rate from 2.25% to 2.50% Higher rates make loans and paying in instalments dearer. Big purchases such as furniture and appliances can be put off, and with less demand sellers find it harder to raise prices. Source: ECB Data Portal ↗▼ holds prices back
The direction describes the decision's first effect on costs or demand; it does not say what prices will do or how much. Last checked: October 20, 2026. The arrow shows the decision’s first effect on costs or demand: ▲ adds to the pressure, ▼ holds prices back. It does not say how much prices will change; other factors work at the same time. How to read →
A scheduled date can be moved by a new decision.
What producers say about their own prices
Every month producers are asked: "Over the next 3 months, will your selling prices rise, stay the same or fall?" Below you see by how many points the share saying "rise" is larger (or smaller) than the share saying "fall". Producers are asked whether their selling prices will rise, stay the same or fall over the next 3 months. The score is the share saying "rise" minus the share saying "fall". Example: if 50% say rise and 14% say fall, the score is +36. Above zero means more producers expect rises than falls; zero means equal. It is not a percentage and does not say how large a rise will be. How to read →
Furniture makers September 2026: producers saying their prices will rise outnumber those saying they will fall by 17.1 points. 3 months earlier the gap was 49.5 points; the 2015-2019 average was 15.7 points.close to the 2015-2019 average
Electrical equipment makers (incl. household appliances) September 2026: producers saying their prices will rise outnumber those saying they will fall by 28.1 points. 3 months earlier the gap was 37 points; the 2015-2019 average was 7.9 points.above the 2015-2019 average
Textile makers (incl. home textiles) September 2026: producers saying their prices will rise outnumber those saying they will fall by 21.3 points. 3 months earlier the gap was 38.4 points; the 2015-2019 average was 10.7 points.above the 2015-2019 average
Wood, board and MDF makers (a furniture input) September 2026: producers saying their prices will rise outnumber those saying they will fall by 4.5 points. 3 months earlier the gap was 23 points; the 2015-2019 average was 13.6 points.below the 2015-2019 average
Rubber and plastics makers (foam, plastic parts) September 2026: producers saying their prices will rise outnumber those saying they will fall by 14 points. 3 months earlier the gap was 31.2 points; the 2015-2019 average was 9.6 points.close to the 2015-2019 average
Steel and basic metal makers September 2026: producers saying their prices will rise outnumber those saying they will fall by 44.6 points. 3 months earlier the gap was 18.3 points; the 2015-2019 average was 8.2 points.above the 2015-2019 average
This is a survey answer, not a measured price. We have not yet tested whether what producers say reaches shop prices. Source: European Commission joint business survey, Germany, seasonally adjusted.
Details: official figures, charts and history
Latest official figures (September 2026) Official consumer price indices (Eurostat, harmonised index of consumer prices) for the month in the heading: the change over 12 months and over the last 3 months. They are measured shop prices, not a forecast. How to read →
over 12 months
over 3 months
Inflation (all items)
+3.3%
+1.6%
Household furniture
-0.1%
-0.1%
Major appliancesalso includes heaters, air conditioners and cleaning equipment, besides the two groups
-3.2%
-0.8%
Kitchen appliances Official consumer price indices for two groups of large appliances. Kitchen appliances (refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, cookers, ovens, hobs) form one index; laundry appliances (washing machines, dryers) another. They are prices measured in the past, not a forecast. The subgroups move more from month to month than the total, partly because of sales, so the 12-month change is the steadier figure. How to read →refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, cookers, ovens and hobs in one index
-3.0%
-1.0%
Laundry applianceswashing machines and dryers
-4.0%
-1.3%
Source: Eurostat, harmonised index of consumer prices: major household appliances and its two subgroups. Official statistics do not publish refrigerators, dishwashers or ovens separately.
Price change over 12 months Each line is the change of an official price index against the same month a year earlier. The dashed line is general inflation; where the category's line is above it, that category's prices rose faster than prices in general. It shows the past only. How to read →
Household furniture / Major appliancesInflation (all items)
Household furnitureMajor appliances
How often prices moved with inflation We compare the category's official price change with inflation over every 3-month period since the start month. "Within" means the two differed by less than the stated band. It describes past periods, not the next 3 months. How to read →
Since January 2019, household furniture prices moved within 1 percentage point of inflation in 57% of 3-month periods. They rose faster in 15% and slower in 28%.
Since January 2019, major appliance prices moved within 1 percentage point of inflation in 42% of 3-month periods. They rose faster in 12% and slower in 46%.
This is the usual pattern a forecast would have to beat.
Sales
Big sales in this window For each sale month we count the past years in which the official price index was lower than in the month before, and give the average change in that month. It describes past years, not this year's sales. How to read →
Black Friday sales· November 2026Household furniture: in this month of 2018-2025, official prices were lower than the month before in 2 of 8 years (+0.1% on average)Major appliances: in this month of 2018-2025, official prices were lower than the month before in 3 of 8 years (0% on average)
Winter sales· January 2027Household furniture: in this month of 2019-2026, official prices were lower than the month before in 3 of 8 years (+0.3% on average)Major appliances: in this month of 2019-2026, official prices were lower than the month before in 0 of 8 years (+0.5% on average)
What official prices did in the same month of past years. It describes the past, not this year.
Source: Eurostat, harmonised index of consumer prices (all items; household furniture; major household appliances).