AFMA Releases September 1999 Survey Of Current Business

Furniture World News

The American Furniture Manufacturers Association announces the results of the September 1999 Survey of Current Business for the furniture manufacturing industry. The Survey reports business activities of participating manufacturing companies in the categories of new orders, shipments, unfilled orders, cancellations, production, payroll, inventories and accounts receivable. Product classifications surveyed are bedroom, dining room, occasional, case goods (wood furniture), recliners and upholstery. The results for the month and year-to-date are presented on a percentage change basis in comparison to the corresponding month and year-to-date period of the previous year. The report also includes monthly indices for new orders and shipments from 1995-1999 in the same classifications, as well as data on collections, deliveries and work hours. New orders for September 1999 increased 15.5% in comparison to September 1998 and 11.3% for the calendar year-to-date versus 1998. Industry shipments increased 9.2% for the month of September 1999 and rose 11.0% for the year in comparison to 1998. The AFMA is a nonprofit, volunteer organization for U.S. furniture manufacturers with corporate members representing 150,000 employees and more than 75% of domestic, and global shipments of U.S. furniture.