Furniture Industry Balances Confidence, Costs, and Change Heading Into 2026

Originally published October 29, 2025. This version was rebuilt from Conference Board data and company filings for the FIN archive, and the facts are as of that date.

The last week of October was earnings week for a lot of home companies, and it landed against a consumer who felt fine about today and worse about tomorrow. The results split along a clear line, between the businesses that were winning online share and the ones still shrinking to fit.

The short version

• Consumer confidence barely moved in October, but expectations stayed in recession-warning territory.
• Wayfair grew faster than it had in years and made more money doing it.
• Bed Bath & Beyond sold less but cut its loss sharply.
• Leggett & Platt saw soft residential demand, which is where bedding and furniture components live.

Confidence holds, expectations sag

The Conference Board's index slipped to 94.6 in October, as a better view of current conditions offset weaker expectations. The expectations measure, at 71.5, had been below the level that usually signals recession since February.

For furniture, the expectations number is the one that matters. People buy a sofa when they feel good about the next year, not just this week.

Wayfair takes share

Wayfair reported third-quarter revenue up 8.1%, with orders delivered growing and adjusted EBITDA up more than 70% from a year earlier. The company said its share gains had accelerated.

Wayfair was growing in a flat category, which means it was taking that business from someone. Every other seller of home goods was competing for the same customers.

Bed Bath & Beyond shrinks to profitability

Bed Bath & Beyond, the former Overstock, reported revenue down 17.4% and a much smaller loss than a year before. Gross margin improved to 25.3% as it cut costs and spent less on marketing.

Leggett & Platt sees soft residential demand

Leggett & Platt reported third-quarter sales down 6%, with lower volume mainly from continued soft demand in residential end markets, automotive and hydraulic cylinders. It sold its aerospace business, used the money to pay down debt and reaffirmed the midpoint of its guidance.

Leggett makes springs, foam and components for bedding and furniture, so its residential volume is an early read on how many mattresses and sofas are being built.

Where this left the industry at the end of October

The consumer was steady but nervous, and the companies doing best were the ones taking share rather than waiting for the market to grow. Suppliers further up the chain were still seeing soft demand.

Related on FIN

• Furniture Shoppers Are Holding Back
• Every Door in Town

Sources

• The Conference Board, Consumer Confidence Index, October 2025
• Wayfair Inc., Third quarter 2025 results, Exhibit 99.1
• Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc., Third quarter 2025 results, Exhibit 99.1
• Leggett & Platt, Third quarter 2025 results, Exhibit 99.1