A new kitchen? For many people, this is obviously not an option at the moment. Furniture manufacturers are fighting against the poor consumer sentiment.
The situation of the German kitchen furniture industry has continued to deteriorate this year. In the first seven months of 2024, manufacturers sold significantly less kitchen furniture than in the same period last year. According to figures from the Federal Statistical Office, sales fell nominally by 7.7 percent to 3.4 billion euros, as the industry association VdDK announced.
“The weak consumer sentiment and the crisis in housing construction have had a noticeable impact on our industry so far this year,” said association chairman Stefan Waldenmaier.
The number of orders received fell by 6.5 percent between January and August. Prices for kitchen furniture have recently been largely stable and have not increased, it was said. Last year, companies had already recorded a drop in demand and had done less business.
Design: Quieter and brighter tones required
Manufacturers are still particularly concerned about the stagnating housing construction in Germany. The decline in building permits has continued at the start of the second half of the year. In the first seven months of this year, statisticians registered just 123,600 permits, 20.8 percent fewer than in the same period last year. The federal government had wanted to make 400,000 new apartments possible each year. According to the Kitchen Furniture Association, moving into a new building usually leads to the purchase of two or three additional kitchens due to subsequent moves.
Waldenmaier is hopeful that inflation will level off and real income growth will increase. “We are assuming that the second half of the year will be stronger for our companies,” he said. When it comes to kitchen design, lighter tones such as beige are particularly in demand this year. Worktops with a stone look and a modern country house style are also popular.
According to the association, there are 46 kitchen furniture manufacturers in Germany with around 18,200 employees. The industry generates almost half of its sales abroad. This share is therefore higher than the average for the entire German furniture industry (33 percent).
Source: Stern
