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.
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.
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.