HIGH POINT, NC - Furniture orders climbed 3% in June over June 2011 but only 47% of respondents in Smith Leonard's monthly survey reported increased orders. In comparison, 69% of respondents said they experienced new order increases in May.

Smith Leonard, an accounting and consulting firm specializing in the residential furniture industry, said the "mixed bad" of results carried over to June furniture shipments. Shipments grew 7% compared to June 2011. About 44% of respondents reported increased shipments with 14% reporting slight decreases.

Through the first half of the year, new furniture orders remained 4% of last year; shipments are up 9% so far.