HIGH POINT – It may not be the end of the furniture industry’s suffering, but analysts, along with buyers and sellers, are expecting to see at least some signs of recovery at the upcoming High Point Market.

This year’s spring market is slated to open Saturday.

The fact that the Dow Jones industrial average reached 11,000 briefly on April 9 and closed at 11,123 Wednesday may bring about a more positive atmosphere at the market, said Ken Smith, a CPA with Smith Leonard PLLC who produces the industry’s monthly Furniture Insights report.

“The stock market coming back has certainly helped people with their moods,” Smith said. “Consumer confidence is down, but the stock market seems to be coming back really strong. That usually makes everyone feel more secure.”

The last three Furniture Insight reports, which survey various manufacturers in the industry, have documented some positive growth, mostly in the area of new orders. October marked the first month since October 2007 where new orders did not decline. “It’s a good sign that we aren’t going down anymore,” Smith said.

Shipment gains every month since October also were documented in The Furnishings Digest Newsletter, published by Mann, Armistead and Epperson Ltd.

Showroom owners were preparing on Wednesday for the event, which has the largest economic impact in North Carolina than any other single tourism event in the state. Their expectations reflected Smith’s, and they said they mostly hope for some small increases and gains this spring.

“I think it (the furniture market) definitely has improved,” said Jackson Carpenter, president of Simon Li Furniture, standing in the company’s showroom in Showplace West. “Is it back to where it should be? I don’t think so. It sounds cliche, but I do think everyone is optimistic.”

Carpenter said he had already seen some positive, foretelling signs for the event, which closes Thursday.

“We are opening up a day early (Friday) because we have some customers who have made appointments with us on that day,” he said. “Last spring, there were a couple of customers we wanted to see that didn’t come to the market. This year, everyone we want to see is scheduled to be here.”

phaynes@hpe.com | 888-3617