HIGH POINT — New factory orders for furniture crept up 1%, in December 2015 compared with the same in the prior year.

That’s according to the latest Furniture Insights survey of residential furniture manufacturers and distributors from High Point accounting and consulting firm Smith Leonard.

“While on the surface, that didn’t seem too good, but when you realize that new orders in December 2014 were 15% higher than December 2013 orders, the 1% doesn’t seem that bad,” noted Smith Leonard Managing Partner Ken Smith.

For the year, new orders were 4% higher than 2014, when they were 7% higher than 2013. Some 53% of survey participants reported increased orders for the year.

“The last part of the year seemed a bit slower for many after starting the year pretty strong,” Smith said. “Overall, 2015 turned out to be a pretty good year as a whole.”

December shipments were 5% ahead of December 2014 and rose 6% for the year after a 6% increase reported in 2014. Shipments were up for some 6% of the participants. Shipments in 2014 were up over 2013 for some 74% of the participants.

Backlogs fell 4% as shipments exceeded new orders in December. Backlogs were also 4 percent lower than December 2014 but December 2014 backlogs were 17 percent higher than December 2013.

Receivables rose 3% over December 2014, comparing favorably with the 5% increase in shipments for the month.

“Inventories remained a bit high with a 7% increase over last December, but this increase really doesn’t seem too far out of line,” Smith added. “Factory and warehouse payrolls and the number of employees also seemed pretty much in line as payrolls were up 7% for the year. The number of employees was up 2% over December 2014, very much in line.”

Looking ahead, Smith anticipates slow industry growth in 2016 as the nation’s attention is drawn to a presidential election in November.

“This year is probably a good year not to expect too much growth but instead to really look after your customers and protect your markets,” Smith said. “As we have always said, you don’t have to have all the business in the world. You just have to have your share.”