by For the full year, there was no significant change in either orders or shipments compared to calendar year 2024
HIGH POINT — New orders for residential furniture were up slightly from December 2024, while shipments were flat, according to the latest Furniture Insights report from Smith Leonard.
For the full year, new orders and shipments respectively were flat or down slightly compared with the prior year.
December orders totaled $2.03 billion, up 1% from $2 billion in December 2024. About one-half of respondents reported increases versus decreases during this period.
Orders were down 11% compared to $2.4 billion in November 2025. The report said this was likely tied to holiday spending as it reported a similar 15% month-over-month decrease the same period last year.
Year to date through December 2025, new orders totaled nearly $26 million, down slightly from $26.2 million for calendar year 2024, “ignoring the impact of tariffs/inflation.”
December shipments totaled $2.05 billion, level with shipments in December 2024 and November 2025. The report noted that shipments in December 2025 were up for about one-half of survey participants compared to December 2024.
Year to date through December 2025, shipments totaled $26.16 billion, down 1% from $26.4 billion in 2024.
December backlogs totaled $2.38 billion, down 2% from $2.4 billion in December 2024. The report said they were down 1% from November “as shipments outpaced new orders.”
Other highlights of the report were as follows:
+ Receivable levels were down 9% from December 2024 and were down 11% from November 2025.
+ Inventories were up 4% from December 2024 and were flat with November 2025.
+ Payrolls were up 5% compared with December 2024 and were down 3% compared to November 2025. “Employee levels are again materially in line with recent months and the prior year,” the report said
+ Year to date through December 2025 payroll expense was up 2%.
