HIGH POINT — U.S. residential furniture factory orders in August were up just 1% from the same month last year, but shipments rose 11% as factories continued to work through their backlogs, according to Smith Leonard's monthly survey.

The accounting and consulting firm said 58% of the survey participants reported better orders in August versus only 45% in July, but the percentage gains in August were for the most part lower.

And orders in August were still down from two years ago. The August 2009 order level was down 12% from August 2008, Smith Leonard said.

Ken Smith, the firm's managing partner, said that manufacturers he saw at the recent High Point Market told him business was picking up until July, but slowed down after that except for some Labor Day activity. "The order rates have not seemed to decline from last year, but have not increased," Smith said in the firm's monthly Furniture Insights newsletter.

For the year to date, orders were running 8% ahead of the 2009 pace through August and shipments were up 9%.

Smith added that some exhibitors he saw at market, and a number of retailers around the country, are keeping sales up by keeping their floors fresh with new and exciting items. However, the economy isn't helping, he said.

"Many believe that once the elections are over, consumers may gain more confidence, but others believe that the economy is so bad, that the elections will not matter," Smith said. "We will see in a few weeks which ones are right."