Month weakest since April; shipments 3% below Sept. ’05
HIGH POINT — U.S. residential furniture factory orders in

September were 10% below the level of September 2012, the weakest monthly comparison of the year since a 13% drop in April, according to BDO Seidman.

The April drop was attributed to the late date of the spring market, although orders failed to rebound in May, the accounting and consulting firm said. The weak September followed order declines of 7% in August and 3% in July.

Only 30% of participants in BDO’s factory survey reported higher orders in September compared with a year ago.

For the year to date, orders were 2% lower than last year’s first three quarters. Some 34% of the survey participants said their orders were up for the period.

Shipments fared better in September, but were still 3% below the comparable 2012 month. Factories had reported shipment declines of 5% in August and 4% in July. Shipments were up for 42% of the survey participants in the month.

For the year to date, shipments were running 1% behind the 2012 pace, with 39% of survey participants reported increases.