March saw sales of durable goods rise 3.3% in March compared with the same month last year, with DIY and garden only just behind the average. GfK says "worst of credit crunch appears to be over" but consumers remain cautious.
The 'GfK Market-i Summary of UK Consumer Durables Markets' said "March data showed an improving trend in the majority of the durables sectors. While the worst of the credit crunch appears to be over, the unsteady recovery from the recession is making consumers more cautious than in previous years. The impending election may well add to this uncertainty, meaning the true picture as to whether the total durables market has turned a corner is not clear yet."

Durable goods, which includes items such as major and small domestic appliances, consumer electronics, office and automotive sales, had a market vale of £3.4bn in March, of which DIY and gardening was worth £0.9bn, equating to a 23% share.

DIY and gardening saw a 3.1% growth month-on-month, the first of 2010. The report stated: "Coinciding with reported continuing increases in average house prices, the home improvement segment drives growth in the DIY/gardening sector. Tiles are up 14% on March last year, whilst emulsion paint and paintbrushes grew 4% and 13% respectively."

However, presumably thanks in part to the weather earlier in the year, the sector saw a 0.6% decline when the entire quarter is compared with 2009.

The multiples came out on top, seeing their growth in value terms increase by 3.3% compared with independents, which only managed 1.8%.

Small domestic appliances outperformed the average, with month-on-month value growth of 5.7% (the seventh consecutive month-on-month increase) and 5.3% across the quarter. "Vacuum cleaners drove the most value growth for the small domestic appliances sector," said the report, "up 9% on March last year. Elsewhere, with mean temperatures in March lower than in 2009, electric heating enjoyed a boost, up 17% month on month."