Data has now been collated, analysed and published in the Garden Industry Monitor Annual Report 2006.

Consumers spent £3.7bn on their gardens in 2006, six percent less than they spent in 2005. Yet, a breakdown of expenditure shows that this decrease was not because consumers were spending less on plants. In fact, horticultural stock (HS) expenditure in 2006 was up £66m (four percent) and valued at £1.8bn. This increase was broadly in line with inflation. In contrast, expenditure on manufactured goods (MG) fell by £300m (13 percent) to £2bn.

As a result of the fall in expenditure on MGs, HS expenditure now accounts for 48% of total spend compared to 43 percent in 2005; going back to 2002, the proportion was even less, at 39 percent. In other words, you might say that retail gardening has been returning to its roots.

This shows that the level of expenditure over the last five years has been driven by this decline in MGs expenditure, with HS expenditure remaining comparatively constant over that period. But, even this chart hides the true picture. The figures are based on actual spend and show a total decline in the market of 22 percent (-6 percent HG and -32 percent MG) over this five-year period. If we take inflation into account, total expenditure has fallen by 25 percent (-8 percent HG and -35 percent MG).

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