Report Summary

Period covered 05 April – 02 May 2026

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 and gardening sales fell xx% YoY in April, a marked slowdown from the xx% growth recorded a year earlier.

A combined March-April view provides a better indication of underlying demand. Across the two-month period, DIY and gardening sales rose xx%, softer than the xx% increase recorded a year earlier, but remaining in positive territory.

Key trading themes and drivers

Easter timing was a significant factor behind April’s decline. March absorbed much of the seasonal uplift typically associated with spring gardening, decorating and outdoor preparation, leaving April facing a tougher comparison against a stronger Easter period in 2025. The combined March-April figure indicates some demand shifted forward, albeit at a slower pace than a year ago.

Weather conditions also influenced trading patterns. Stronger spring weather supported gardening and outdoor maintenance demand in early March, reducing urgency for purchases in April. Seasonal categories remain highly sensitive to timing, with favourable early weather often redistributing spend.

A divide remains within the category with repair, maintenance and decorating continuing to hold up better as households prioritise practical spending and protecting existing assets. Larger renovation projects, landscaping and big-ticket garden spending remain weaker as budgets tighten.

In a recent trading update, Wickes reported it benefitted from stronger demand in trade-facing activity and indoor projects. Design and installation activity was steadier than purely discretionary spending, supporting the category’s practical nature.

Slowing activity in the housing market is also weighing on demand. Higher borrowing costs are seeing the postponement of renovation activity, although DIY’s greater exposure to maintenance spending provides some support.

Macroeconomic backdrop

The economic backdrop became more difficult during April.

Rising fuel and energy prices linked to conflict in the Middle East renewed inflation concerns and placed further pressure on household budgets. At the same time, expectations for near term interest rate cuts faded, keeping borrowing costs elevated.

Consumer confidence around major purchases remained subdued, impacting home investments. Stable employment and positive wage growth continue to support spending, although softer hiring demand and easing earnings growth limit appetite for larger projects.

Outlook

April’s headline decline should be interpreted cautiously given Easter timing effects, with the March-April figures indicating underlying demand remained positive, although materially weaker than a year earlier.

Repair, maintenance and trade-led spending are expected to provide greater support than larger discretionary projects during the second quarter. Gardening demand should benefit from seasonal conditions, with May’s heatwave expected to have supported spending within the category.

Higher living costs, weaker confidence and softer housing activity are expected to weigh spending, particularly when it can be delayed. DIY and gardening is still expected to hold up better than other home categories, with growth concentrated in practical, lower cost areas of the sector.

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Consumer confidence edges up in May