Jan. 2010 furniture orders up

January 2010 new furniture orders were positive again compared to January 2009, according to Smith Leonard's most recent Furniture Insights survey of residential furniture manufacturers and distributors.
While not quite as positive as the November and December results, orders still were in positive territory, showing a four percent increase over January 2009.
This four percent increase follows a 12 percent increase in December, a 10 percent increase in November and a flat October, in year-over-year comparisons. The study found January results negatively impacted by bad weather, and expect February results also to be affected.
Some 59 percent of survey participants reported increased orders, down slightly from 62 percent in December.
Shipments in January were six percent higher than January 2009, following a three percent increase in December. While shipments were down 24 percent in January 2009 versus January 2008, December’s increase in shipments was the first since June 2006.
Shipments in January were 10 percent lower than December 2009, somewhat normal in the January to December comparisons, according to the study. Approximately 62 percent of survey participants reported increased shipments in January, up from about 50 percent in December.