From the first quarter of 2024 onwards, there are signs of improvement in the German DIY retail sales environment. This was an increase of 4.4% compared to the same period last year (+4.5% YoY). In Germany, numbers have risen again for the eighth month in a row. In particular, March showed the most remarkable growth with a 9.6% increase. In the first quarter, his DIY and garden centers in Germany generated a total of 4.76 billion euros. These figures were recently released by BHB.
The first quarter looks a little calmer in neighboring countries. Sales in Austria increased by +2.8% (645.3 million euros). Three months later, Switzerland is still in the surplus (CHF 729.2 million, EUR 746.8 million).
But BHB has yet to see any reason for the euphoria. On the one hand, sales in Germany he decreased significantly in the same quarter of January 2023, and on the other hand, items in the construction segment have not yet recovered. Coming out of the valley.
Horticultural product range that most clearly reflects the situation
This trend is clearly confirmed when looking at the sales trends of individual product ranges. According to BHB statistics, sales in the horticultural chemicals/soil/seeds sector increased by 43.5% year-on-year, followed closely by Living Green (+39.4%) and garden tools/irrigation and drainage sales. Masu. (+36.1%), garden supplies (+16.7%), garden furniture (+15.2%). The tiles (-15.2%), furniture (-9.7%), and architectural elements (-8.2%) segments recorded significant declines.
In Austria, the situation is similar regarding the product range. Garden furniture saw the biggest increase at +28.5%, closely followed by Living Green at +27.5%. Horticultural chemicals/soil/seeds also sold better than the same period last year, at +25.7%. In Austria, the steepest decline was recorded in building materials/construction materials (-21.8%), with a notable decline also in tiles (-15.1%).
The situation is similar in DIY and garden centers in Switzerland. Horticultural chemicals/soil/seeds (+19.1%) and living green space (+16.1%) increased, while tiles (-13.1%) and furniture (-11.2%) increased. ) decreased by double digits.
“Although this trend is certainly not stable yet, at least cautious optimism is possible,” emphasizes Franz Peter Tepas, spokesperson for the BHB Board of Management. “Fundamentally, we expect inflation to stabilize at a lower level and improve wages for many employees, providing some boost to consumer sentiment again. A positive mood created before and after the championships could also be a great stimulus for DIY and garden center business.”