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(Updated 2.14.08)

THE U.S. OFFICE FURNITURE MARKET

Historic Industry Growth

The table and graphical representation below depict the concept of market consumption which is defined as production, plus imports, minus exports. Production represents the total shipments, or sales, value of office furniture manufacturers located in the U.S. to all locations in the world. Consumption represents the value of all office furniture sold in the U.S. from all sources in the world including those in the U.S.

 VALUE OF U.S. OFFICE FURNITURE MARKET
(Millions of U.S. Dollars)
 Year U.S. Production % Change Imports Exports Consumption % Change
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
$11,420
$10,820
$10,070
$8,935
$8,505
$8,890
$10,975
$13,285
$12,240
$12,350
$11,460
$10,040
$9,435
$8,850
$8,160
$7,710
$7,228
$7,863
5.5%
7.4%
12.7%
5.1%
(4.3)%
(19.0)%
(17.4)%
8.5%
(0.9)%
7.8%
14.1%
6.4%
6.6%
8.5%
5.8%
6.7%
(8.1)%

$2,563
$2,531
$2,280
$2,022
$1,870
$1,777
$1,806
$2,094
$1,772
$1,532
$1,236
$968
$798
$677
$548
$440
$394
$446
$565
$492
$438
$347
$307
$338
$430
$496
$430
$454
$443
$360
$345
$375
$364
$324
$288
$245
$13,419
$12,859
$11,912
$10,610
$10,068
$10,328
$12,351
$14,883
$13,591
$13,428
$12,253
$10,648
$9,888
$9,152
$8,345
$7,826
$7,334
$8,064
4.4%
7.9%
12.3%
5.4%
(2.5)%
(16.4)%
(17.0)%
9.5%
1.2%
9.6%
15.1%
7.7%
8.0%
9.7%
6.6%
6.7%
(9.1)%

NOTE: Volume figures reflect the manufacturers' invoice value of new office furniture. Figures do not include refurbished (recycled) furniture (add an estimated 15%) or RTA office furniture (add an estimated $800 million).

Historic Product Mix Ratios

The chart below diagrams the gradual shift in total product mix. The overall Wood and Non-Wood product mix remains relatively constant at approximately 25% wood product and 75% non-wood product. However, the wood/non-wood mix will vary by specific product category. The chart is based on U.S. production rather than market consumption since comparable data is not available on the same basis for imports and exports.

ANNUAL U.S. PRODUCTION BY PRODUCT CATEGORY
Year
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
Seating
26.5%
26.3%
26.5%
26.6%
25.8%
25.2%
24.9%
25.3%
24.6%
24.8%
25.1%
24.9%
25.6%
24.4%
24.9%
24.8%
24.4%
Desks
10.9%
11.1%
11.0%
11.0%
11.7%
11.5%
11.9%
11.5%
12.4%
10.2%
10.7%
10.6%
10.8%
11.3%
10.8%
8.9%
9.1%
Storage
7.4%
7.6%
7.9%
8.0%
7.4%
6.0%
4.9%
4.4%
4.3%
5.3%
5.6%
5.4%
5.5%
5.3%
5.3%
5.5%
5.5%
Files
13.3%
14.3%
14.1%
13.5%
13.1%
12.6%
12.4%
12.9%
12.8%
13.5%
13.8%
15.1%
14.3%
15.8%
15.1%
14.9%
15.1%
Tables
7.2%
7.5%
7.2%
6.8%
7.2%
7.1%
6.4%
6.9%
6.3%
6.8%
6.8%
6.1%
6.2%
6.7%
6.3%
6.4%
6.2%
Systems
30.2%
29.1%
29.4%
30.5%
32.1%
33.7%
36.6%
36.0%
35.9%
36.1%
34.6%
34.8%
35.1%
33.4%
34.0%
35.2%
34.8%
Other
4.5%
4.1%
3.9%
3.5%
2.8%
3.9%
3.0%
2.9%
3.7%
3.3%
3.4%
3.0%
2.4%
3.1%
3.5%
4.3%
4.8%

Imports/Exports

The chief office furniture trading partner with the U.S. is Canada, receiving about 50% of all U.S. office furniture exports, and currently providing about 45% of all office furniture brought into the States. That percentage was closer to 60% in the late 1990’s but imports from other countries, particularly China, have gradually been increasing their share of the U.S. market.


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