USA (WWN).- U.S. furniture shipments in July from manufacturers and distributors were up 15% over July 2009, according to Smith Leonard, an accounting/consulting firm specializing

in the residential furniture industry. Nearly two-thirds of respondents to Smith Leonard's monthly survey reported that July shipments exceeded those of July 2009.On another front, July shipments declined 16% from June, but Smith Leonard said "that is somewhat normal with most companies taking at least one week off in July."