The value of furniture and lighting sales fell for the second consecutive month in August, but were still ahead of 2019.
Sales in England, Scotland and Wales dropped by 6.8% compared with July 2022, to £1.111bn, according to ONS data.
Sales were 3.25% lower than August 2021 and 0.48% and 3.37% higher than August 2020 and 2019 respectively.
It was the 72nd best month of 440 months since comparable records began in January 1986.
The figures are non-seasonally adjusted, do not include the effect of inflation and are subject to revision by the ONS.