Flooring retail price inflation maintains highest level
Retail price inflation for flooring continues to edge up at historically high levels despite a small fall in the UK furnishing sector overall.
Latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) says retail inflation across the furnishing sector is running at 16.2%, a marginal decline from last month's high of 16.8%, but well ahead of the general consumer index figure of 9.1% for May.
Flooring price inflation for May is reported at 9.4%, up on April's 9.0% statistic but analysts say this sector is experiencing two very different scenarios between carpet and rugs and vinyl.
Inflation is falling significantly in the textile sector but this is more than offset by continuing strong inflation in vinyl products due to oil-based raw material costs and other rises in production and logisitics costs.



