BHB Data Show DIY Home Improvement Retail in Germany and Europe Still Waiting for a Turnaround
SHERIDAN, WYOMING - November 27, 2025 - The home improvement and garden retail sector in Germany and the wider European market is still searching for a sustained upswing, as new figures from the Handelsverband Heimwerken, Bauen und Garten e.V. (BHB) reveal a modest decline in sales after the third quarter of 2025 despite a strong second quarter and pockets of category growth.
Cautious Consumers Slow DIY and Garden Spending
Across Germany, Austria and Switzerland, macroeconomic uncertainty and consumer caution continue to weigh on DIY spending. After nine months of 2025, German DIY and home improvement stores generated €16.08 billion in gross sales, down 1.4% year-on-year, or 1.2% on a like-for-like basis. Switzerland also reported a decline, while only Austria managed to end the period with a positive overall result.