(Editor: Leona)

U.S. residential furniture factory orders ticked up 3% in November compared with the same month a year earlier, accounting and consulting firm Smith Leonard reported.

Orders increased for 75% of the participants in the firm’s monthly factory survey, “one of the highest percentages we have had for a long time,” Ken Smith, managing partner, said in his monthly Furniture Insights newsletter.

The 3% gain in November 2014 was on top of a good month a year earlier, when orders were up 10% from 2013. For the year to date, orders through November 2014 were up 6%.

Shipments during the month were up 1% and remained 6% ahead for the year to date.

Smith noted that the firm has now reported order gains for nine consecutive months and 19 of the past 20. He added that consumer confidence and most economic indicators continue to work in the industry’s favor, although “the lack of growth in residential construction and average weekly hours in average weekly hours in manufacturing remain a concern.”

Based on the positive national news, “along with low interest rates and a good stock market, the furniture business should be good in most sectors. Notice, we said good as most would not describe it as great,” Smith said.