HIGH POINT, NC -- U.S. residential furniture shipments increased 2% to open the year compared to January 2010.

New furniture orders for January, however, declined 1% compared to January 2010 and were off 5% from December, according to Smith Leonard, a consulting and accounting firm specializing in the residential furniture market.

Smith Leonard noted that 45% of manufacturers and dealers responding to its monthly survey indicated that they bucked the trend by writing up more new orders this January than last. 

Posted by Rich Christianson

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