by Year-over-year shipments rose 4%, according to latest Furniture Insights report
HIGH POINT — New orders for residential furniture were down in the month of October while shipments were up compared with a year earlier, according to Smith Leonard’s monthly Furniture Insights report.
New orders were down 1%, to $2.29 billion, from $2.3 billion in October 2024, with two-thirds of survey participants reporting increases versus decreases compared with the previous year. They also were down 8% from $2.47 billion in September.
Year-over-year shipments were up 4% to $2.31 billion, from $2.2 billion in October 2024, and were up for two-thirds of survey participants, the report noted. They were up 2% from $2.3 billion in September.
October backlogs totaled $2.4 billion, down 2% from $2.44 billion in October 2024, and were down 3% from $2.5 billion in September, which resulted from shipments outpacing new orders.
Other highlights of the report are as follows:
+ Receivable levels were down 2% from October 2024 but up 4% from September 2025.
+ Inventory levels were up 4% from October 2024 and up 1% from September.
+ The number of factory and warehouse employees was down 2% from October 2024 and level with September.
+ Payroll expenses were up 5% compared with October 2024 and up 3% from September.
