Insee Focus · December 2025 · n° 370

The home goods and DIY retail sectors had faced structural difficulties since the late 2000s

Between 2019 and 2021, the sales outlet specialised in household equipment weathered the coronavirus pandemic much better than the retail sector as a whole, with sales volume rising twice as fast (+13.2% versus +6.8%). However, this situation did not last: sales fell by 12.3% between 2021 and 2024, while the retail sector continued to grow overall (+3.2%). Beyond the post‑pandemic correction, the household equipment sector faced longer‑standing difficulties, which became apparent in 2009 when it began to lag behind within retail. This was accompanied by a change in the structure of stores, at least since 2015, with two trends at work: a decline in the number of shops (-6.9% between 2015 and 2022) and an increase in their average floor space (+10.5%). The weak growth in activity coincided with only a slight increase in employment. Nevertheless, economic profitability remained stable over the period 2012–2023, peaking during the years of the health crisis.