April residential furniture orders remain mixed: Smith Leonard

April residential furniture orders remain mixed: Smith Leonard July 8, 2026 | 2:40 pm CDT

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Furniture

Woodworking Industry News

Almanac Market Data

April residential furniture orders remain mixed: Smith Leonard

By

Karen M. Koenig

July 8, 2026 | 2:40 pm CDT

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Photo by Spacejoy on Unsplash

HIGH POINT, N.C., New residential furniture orders dropped 4% in April compared to the previous month, but rose 3% compared to April 2025's numbers, according to the June issue of Furniture Insights. Approximately two-thirds of participants reported increases versus decreases in April compared to a year ago.

Shipments were also down 6% compared to March, and flat with April 2025, with approximately one-half of the survey participants reporting increases compared to the year prior, according to Mark Laferriere, assurance partner at Smith Leonard, the accounting and consulting firm that produces the monthly report.   

Both new orders and shipments were flat for the year to date compared to last year.

April backlogs were down 1% compared to March, and flat with 2025's numbers. Receivable levels were down 5% from March and down 6% from April 2025, according to the report. Inventories were flat with March, but up 4% from April 2025, "continuing the trends from recent months," Laferriere said.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, sales at furniture and home furnishings stores in May were up 1% compared to April 2026, but down 1.2% from May 2025.. Year to date on a non-adjusted basis, sales were down 3.1% compared to 2025, according to June's Furniture Insights.

In his comments, Laferriere said, "Continuing the trend from 2025, new orders continue to alternate between monthly gains and losses in 2026 compared to 2025 so far for the participants in our stats program, which does little to provide the consistency or momentum the industry has been craving as a whole for some time." 

Meanwhile, consumer confidence, housing and other economic indicators continue to mixed as the industry waits for what happens next with tariffs and refunds. ""So this seems to be shaping up to be another challenging year," Laferriere noted, "but nothing the industry hasn’t experienced and overcome many times before."

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About the author

Karen Koenig

| Editor

Karen M. Koenig has more than 35 years of experience in the woodworking industry, including visits to wood products manufacturing facilities throughout North America, Europe and Asia. As senior editor, her responsibilities include writing and editing for Woodworking Network publications FDMC Magazine and Closets & Organized Storage Magazine, as well as the website. She also oversees many of Woodworking Network's special projects and programs, including Red Book: Resource Guide for Best Practice, FDMC 300, 40 Under 40, and the Wood Industry Market Leaders. She can be reached at karen.koenig@woodworkingnetwork.com.

Read more articles from this author

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