Furniture specialists saw their weakest growth for a decade in 2004 - and indications point to an even more challenging 2005.
The key growth pillars of a strong housing market and robust consumer confidence have been eroded.
Levels of housing transactions are substantially down in 2005, while house price growth in many parts of the country has become a thing of the past.
This, combined with reduced consumer confidence - with consumers less inclined to take out debt - has had a significant impact on the market.