The Horticultural Trades Association’s (HTA) monthly Market Update shows that garden centre sales increased by 10% in October 2026 compared with October last year and 19% above October 2024 levels.
Plants and gardening products sold particularly well despite a sharp drop in consumer confidence.
Fran Barnes, Chief Executive of the HTA, said:
“October’s figures show that people are continuing to make time for their gardens, even as confidence in the wider economy has weakened. Customer transactions were up 7% on last year and 11% compared with 2024, with garden/gardening sales up 9% by volume, showing that people are still keen to get out into their gardens as Autumn kicks in. With those figures broadly in line with inflation, it is encouraging to see more people coming through garden centre doors rather than relying on customers spending significantly more each time they visit.
“However, strong turnover does not necessarily mean stronger returns. Garden centres continue to face higher employment, fuel and supply costs, which are absorbing much of the benefit of increased sales. Following the Autumn Budget, we continue to call on the government to provide greater certainty and a supportive operating environment if they are to invest, employ people and continue contributing to their local economies.”
Gardening sales were a particular highlight, up 13% from October 2025 and 19% from 2024. Every garden product category grew against both previous years, with plant care sales up 21%, hardy plants up 18%, and outdoor containers and garden furniture both up 13%. Bedding sales also rose by 5%.
The relatively mild, sunny conditions during the first half of October likely helped extend the gardening season, encouraging people to keep investing in their outdoor spaces later into the autumn.
Catering remains another important contributor to performance, with café and restaurant sales increasing by 11% compared with October 2025 and 23% compared with 2024.
Christmas and other non-gardening sales also held up. Christmas products were the third-largest non-gardening category by sales value in October, up 2% year on year. Food and farm shop sales rose 9%, and clothing rose 8%, while indoor living sales edged down 1%.
The positive trading figures come against a more challenging consumer backdrop. The GfK Consumer Confidence Index fell by 11 points to -24, the second-largest monthly decline since July 2016, driven by the Brexit vote. The Major Purchase Index dropped by 14 points to -22, while the General Economic Outlook fell by 14 points to -36.
GfK attributed the decline to continuing cost-of-living pressures and the impact of the Iran War on inflation, which have eroded the optimism that followed the arrival of the new Prime Minister in the summer. This means that garden centre sales were particularly strong in October against this backdrop.
Weather conditions were mixed during the month. October was the ninth consecutive month with above-average temperatures, at 0.9°C above the long-term average. After a dry, sunny first half, Storms Austen and Boelo brought heavy rainfall in the second half, taking UK rainfall to 113% of the typical October level. However, the Environment Agency has warned that 120% of average rainfall is needed over the winter months to avoid drought conditions extending into spring 2027.
For the year to the end of October, garden centre sales remain 2% ahead of 2025 and 12% ahead of 2024. Gardening sales have returned to the same level as last year and are 8% ahead of 2024, following October’s strong performance.
Despite continuing to trade well against an exceptionally strong 2025, garden centres remain under pressure from rising employment, fuel and other operating costs. Inflation is also absorbing sales increases, making it difficult for many businesses to translate stronger turnover into improved profitability.
The HTA represents around 1,400 businesses across the UK environmental horticulture sector, including garden centres, growers, retailers, landscapers and manufacturers. The HTA’s monthly Market Update brings together garden centre sales data with consumer confidence, weather, inflation and other economic measures affecting the horticulture sector. HTA members can find more detail in this month’s Market Update on their website.
