The 2012 Statistics Digest reported the number of furniture manufacturers declined by 4% between 2008-2011 while turnover fell by 23%. Average employment fell 15% and employment costs 14%.
There were only 255 companies operating at turnovers in excess of £5m while 84% turned over less than £1m and 58% had sales of less than £250,000.
Imports declined slightly in 2011 to £4.3bn from £4.5bn with one-third coming from China. Exports continued a slow rise at £993m last year.
