Furniture orders slow to 1% increase in August

HIGH POINT, NC -- Smith Leonard LLC reported that furniture orders for August 2010 increased 1% compared to August 2009, but off 12 percent from August 2008.

"The results were in line with most of what we had heard on the street," Smith Leonard reported in its October issue of Furniture Insights. "In August, 58 percent of the participants reported increased orders versus only 45 percent last month, but the percentage increases were, for the most part, lower this month than last."

Year-to-date, new orders are up 8% over the first eight months, down from a 9% increase reported in July.

Smith Leonard also reported that furniture shipments were 11% ahead of August 2009, but down 18% from August 2008.

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