December’s Garden Centre Association (GCA) Barometer of Trade (BoT) figures out today show ‘another nice increase on sales’ and a year-to-date figure of +7.31% (January 23, 2026).
Of the 13 categories logged by garden centres, nine were up when compared to December 2024 with seeds & bulbs top at +16.71%, followed by Food Hall/Farm Shop at +9.37%.
GCA Chief Executive, Peter Burks, says: “We finish the year with another nice increase on sales in the month of December and a year-to-date figure of +7.31%. Christmas showed a small shortfall in the month, which is explained by November having an extra weekend this year.
“It’s great to see the biggest year-to-date increases being furniture, correcting some very poor recent years, and garden sundries. It was disappointing to see a negative figure for houseplants in December, but the feeling is that this shows customers were buying food products as gifts rather than plants.”
Clothing came third place in December’s BoT at +9.35%, followed by outdoor plants with +8.03% and catering in fifth with +7.04%.
Furniture & BBQs was sixth recording +6.28%, then garden sundries at +5.39%, followed by the gifts category up by +1.66%.
The categories that recorded negatively, when compared with December 2024, where pets & aquatics -0.26%, Christmas -2.80%, houseplants -4.84% and hard landscaping -36.89%.
The GCA’s BoT reports covering 13 categories are compiled using actual sales figures and provide an up-to-date trading position statement. They are made available mid-month following the end of the prior month after all member garden centres have submitted their results.
