HIGH POINT, NC -- Smith Leonard PLLC reported that new residential furniture orders for September 2010 were 3% below new orders in September 2009.

The accounting/consulting firm said its recent survey found new orders were down for the first time since September 2009 when comparing results of the same month of the most current year to the prior year.

Smith Leonard said some 66% of participants said their September orders had declined.

Despite the decline, Smith Leonard said year-to-date new orders were still up 6 %. 

In addition, furniture shipments in September were up 6% compared to September 2009.