Year-to-date new residential furniture orders were down 25% from last year, but 2% higher than pre-pandemic 2019 figures.

New residential furniture orders in April continued to slide, marking a fourth straight month of year-over-year double-digit declines according to the latest issue of Furniture Insights. However, compared to April 2019 orders grew by 4%.

TEMPE, Ariz. — Furniture orders are down according to recently released studies such as one by Smith Leonard, and the Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.

New residential furniture orders were down roughly 26% in March compared to 2021 figures, according to the latest Furniture Insights survey. Year-to-date orders were down 21%.

Although new orders fell 20% in February compared to 2021, it's "not all that bad" considering 2021 figures were up 24% over February 2020, the last month before the pandemic set in, said Ken Smith, managing partner at Smith Leonard.

Even with the 12% decline in new residential furniture orders in the January year-over-year comparison, an estimated 55% of the residential furniture manufacturers and distributors participating in the monthly survey reported increased orders for the month.

Despite December's 6% drop in new residential furniture orders compared to 2020, they are still up by double-digits over 2019 figures.

Year-to-date orders for residential furniture were up 16% over the 2020 period for 77% of the residential furniture manufacturers and distributors participating in the monthly survey. Shipments were up 23% YTD according to January's Furniture Insights.

Business continues to be good for most in the residential side of the furniture world of manufacturers and distributors.

Although new residential furniture orders dropped 14% in August compared to 2020 figures, they are up 30% over 2019 figures. Year-to-date new orders are up double-digits over both 2020 and 2019 figures, according to the latest issue of Furniture Insights.