HIGH POINT, N.C. — New residential furniture orders rose 13% in May compared to the prior month, and grew 8% compared to May 2025’s numbers, according to the July issue of Furniture Insights. Approximately two-thirds of participants reported increases for the month compared to a year ago.
The increase in May new orders also marks the second consecutive month of year-over-year growth, “the first such trend since June-July 2025,” said Mark Laferriere, assurance partner at Smith Leonard, the accounting and consulting firm that produces the monthly report.
Year to date, new orders are up 2% over 2025 figures
Shipments were flat compared to April, but up 1% compared to May 2025, with approximately one-half of the survey participants reporting increases compared to the year prior, according to Laferriere. Year to date, shipments are now flat with 2025.
May backlogs were up 5% compared to both April and May 2025. Receivable levels were down 4% from April and down 5% from May 2025, according to the report. Inventories were down 1% from April, but up 3% from last year, “continuing the trends from recent months,” Laferriere said.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, sales at furniture and home furnishings stores in June were flat compared to both the prior month and past year. Year to date on a non-adjusted basis, sales were down 2% compared to 2025, according to July’s Furniture Insights.
Sales at furniture and home furnishings stores in June 2026 were flat compared to both May 2026 and June 2025 on a seasonally-adjusted basis,. Year to date on a non-adjusted basis, sales were down 2.0% (down 3.1% last month).
In his comments, Laferriere said, “Tariffs, both new and old, continue to be top of mind, as new rates went into effect in late July and affected companies figure out how operations will be impacted. Consumer confidence, housing, and other economic indicators also remain mixed as uncertainty driven in part by current world events continues.”
“However,” he added, “recent financial and other reporting from public companies in the industry seems generally positive, so hopefully the positive trends will continue through the remaining summer months.”
