Office Furniture Orders Down 6% From Year Ago

New York, NY, Dec. 5, 2008--U.S. office furniture orders fell 6 percent in October to $945 million compared with a year ago, its largest decline since May 2003.

The Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA) said October shipments rose about 2 percent to $975 million year-over-year.

Also, the trade group said it expects full-year orders and shipments to fall by 1.1 percent and 1.8 percent.

In 2009, it expects orders and shipments to drop 13.1 percent and 11.6 percent, respectively.

BIFMA compiled its October report from 38 companies that account for about 75 percent of the industry's volume.