Florists NAICS 459310

Oct 27, 2025 - Tepid Consumer Environment for Florists

• Florists face a cautious consumer environment as recent confidence and sentiment indexes point to weakened discretionary spending and heightened inflation concerns. In September 2025, the Consumer Confidence Index from the Conference Board fell to 94.2, with job optimism down and inflation expectations high. Buying intentions dropped for cars and travel, while interest in homes and smartphones rose. Confidence declined across most age and income groups, especially among households earning $25,000–$35,000 and over $200,000. The consumer sentiment index held at 55.0 in October 2025 from the previous month, and was down 22% year-over-year, according to the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers. Overall, the data signals cautious consumer sentiment, which could dampen retail spending heading into the holiday season.
• The Retail Trade Industry is one of seven industries reporting contraction in September's Services ISM Report on Business. Executives in the Retail Trade industry reported increases in employment and order backlogs, along with faster supply deliveries and decreases in new orders, imports, and inventories in September. Additional industries reporting contraction during the period were Mining; Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting; Construction; Management of Companies & Support Services; Professional, Scientific & Technical Services; Retail Trade; and Real Estate, Rental & Leasing. Ten industries reporting growth during the period were Accommodation & Food Services; Health Care & Social Assistance; Other Services; Information; Public Administration; Educational Services; Wholesale Trade; Finance & Insurance; Transportation & Warehousing; and Utilities. Overall, economic activity in the services sector was unchanged in September, with the Services PMI registering 50%.

• Employment by florists fell by 1.6% in July 2025 year over year, continuing an ongoing decline in the industry, according to data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment by florists decreased 12.4% in the past decade, much lower than the 13% growth in overall private employment. Meanwhile, wages at miscellaneous retailers, including florists, grew 3.3% in July 2025 year over year. According to the Consumer Price Index, prices for indoor plants and flowers were up 4.5% in September 2025 year over year.
• According to a report in Florists’ Review, findings from the 2024 Floriculture Sustainability Survey conducted by North Carolina State University revealed strong interest in sustainability across all floral industry sectors. Funded by the American Floral Endowment’s Sustainabloom program, the survey gathered input from over 100 floraculture businesses. Retail florists and wholesalers plan to implement certain sustainability practices in the future, such as packaging reduction (33%), water conservation (23%), and electric vehicles (23%), noting top barriers to implementation include cost and lack of education. Common current sustainability practices include the use of LEDs, recycling containers, and the use of recycled materials. Per the survey, 90% of florists offer deliveries, with the range of deliveries from 6 to 100 miles. A recent Floral Marketing Fund study reported that nearly 60% of consumers are more likely to buy from environmentally friendly floral providers.