HIGH POINT, N.C. — After the rise in orders the previous month, new residential furniture orders fell 3% in August, compared to the same period in 2024, according to the October issue of Furniture Insights. New orders also dropped 3% compared to the month prior, according to Mark Laferriere, assurance partner at Smith Leonard, the accounting and consulting firm that produces the monthly report. Approximately one-half of participants reported increases in August 2025 compared to a year ago, he said.

New residential furniture orders remain down just 1% for the year-to-date, compared to last year.

August shipments were down 6% compared to 2024 figures, with just one-thirds of survey participants reporting increases compared to the year prior, Laferriere noted. However, August shipments were up 5% compared to July. although they remain down 1% for the year-to-date compared to 2024 figures. August backlogs were flat compared to 2024, and down 1% from July 2025 as shipments outpaced new orders, Laferriere said.

Receivable levels were up 1% from July, and down 2% from August 2024, "both materially in line with related shipment trends," Laferriere noted. Inventories, he added, "were actually up 3% compared to both July 2025 and August 2024, which is likely caused by the impact of tariffs." 

Due to the ongoing government shutdown, there is no new information available on September sales at furniture and home furnishings stores.

The October report by Smith Leonard was made following the fall High Point Market. "It was again a Market dominated by discussions of tariffs and the economy as whole. While opinions of individual exhibitors varied, conditions for companies working with designers and less cost-conscious customers were generally favorable," Laferriere said. "On the flip-side, many companies serving the lower end of the market were getting opportunities and at bats with customers they may not have otherwise seen. Most buyers also seem to understand that tariffs in some form or fashion are here to stay, and they are ready to move forward.

"But regardless of what end of the market you’re in, there was one overriding consensus, and that is that retail is slow. This is really no surprise given the consumer confidence reports from the last few months, coupled with the current government shutdown, as well as the year to date results of our survey participants."

He continued, "The recently announced deal with China will hopefully bring some clarity to the industry, and along with continued interest rate cuts, and business in Washington eventually getting back to 'normal,' some stability to the overall economy that will encourage consumers to spend at retail."