DIY and gardening growth slows, with independents worst hit, while small domestic appliances report encouraging increases, up 7.4% on last year.
The consumer durables market grew 1.4% in September compared with the same month last year, according to GfK's Market-i for the month. DIY and gardening saw a 2.4% decline in market value to £0.8bn, despite a year-to-date increase of 0.7% to £8.4bn between January and September 2010.

Sales of barbecues more than halved in value terms in September, compared with last year, while incandescent lamps dropped 28%. More positively, lawnmowers reported a 20% growth in sales value, although the market is still heavily declining in year-to-date figures.

Major domestic appliances saw a 3.9% uplift in sales value to £2.6bn year-to-date, with a month-on-month rise of 1.5% to £0.3bn compared with September 2009. Key growth in the sector was driven by a surge in demand for tumble dryers and freezers, alongside the constant rise in washing machines, said GfK. The growth in tumble dryer sales was attributed to a cooler and slightly wetter September this year.

Small domestic appliances saw the highest year-to-date growth at 7.8% to £1.5bn, with an equally encouraging month-on-month increase of 7.4% compared with last September. Within the sector, floorcare remains robust, with vacuum cleaners growing 6% month on month. Meanwhile, kitchen appliances drove online growth in September, with the small domestic appliances sector as a whole reporting a 38.4% increase on last year.

Multiple specialists currently have the biggest share of the consumer durables market at 55%, worth £1,818m, while online retailers rank second with15% valued at £505m. Independent retailers have a 10% share worth £345m and supermarkets follow at £246m.

Independents saw a 7.4% decline in DIY and gardening sales compared with September 2009, while sales of major and small domestic appliances saw a small increase for the month, up 1.5% and 0.4% respectively.

The chains saw a smaller decline in DIY and gardening, down 2.3% on September last year, while sales of major domestic appliances dropped 4.4%. Small domestic appliances fared better, with a growth in sales value of 4.3% for the retail chains.
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