Oct 07, 2009. /Lesprom Network/. Orders for new residential furniture continue to decline, dropping 16%, year-over-year, in July, according to the latest survey of manufacturers by High Point, N.C.-based consulting and accounting firm Smith Leonard. Year to date, orders for new furniture are 20% lower in 2009 than 2008. Shipments of completed orders in July were off by 19%, and year-to-date shipments are off by 20% from a year earlier. Factory employment also continues to fall, with the number of employees down 20%, year-over-year, in July, and total payrolls 17% lower. Survey author Ken Smith said the good news in the report is that, while total orders are still down, more manufacturers are seeing an increase in activity compared with recent months. "Several company executives we have spoken with seem to feel that we may have hit bottom over the last few months, as orders appear to be stabilizing somewhat," he said.