by However, shipments were up 2% during the same period and also up 6% from February
HIGH POINT — New orders for residential furniture were down from March 2025 while shipments were up during the same period according to the latest Furniture Insights report from Smith Leonard.
Based on a survey of some of the largest furniture manufacturers and distributors in the industry, the report noted that new orders totaled $2.11 billion in March, down 2% from $2.15 billion the same period a year earlier. Sixty percent of those surveyed reported increases.
By comparison, new orders were up 1% from just under $2.1 billion in February.
Shipments totaled $2.3 billion, up 2% from $2.26 billion in March 2025, up for about half the survey participants. They also were up 6% from $2.18 billion in February.
Backlogs also were up, totaling $2.39 billion, a 1% increase from $2.37 billion in March 2025. They were down 1% from the prior month “as shipments outpaced new orders.”
Other highlights from the report were as follows:
+ Receivable levels were down 3% from March 2025 and down 1% from February.
+ Inventories were up 4% from March 2025 and down 2% from February, “continuing the trends from recent months.”
+ The number of factory and warehouse employees was down 5% from March 2025 and down 1% from February.
+ Payroll expense was up 4% from March 2025,and up 8% from February, likely signaling a rise in labor rates and benefits among certain employees for retention purposes.
