Industry and Trade Summary: Furniture and Motor Vehicle Seats (1995-99).

摘要

This summary provides information on the U.S. and foreign industries producing furniture, U.S. and foreign tariff policies and nontariff measures in effect for these products, and the U.S. industry's performance in domestic and foreign markets. The report covers the period 1995-99. The principal products covered by this summary are household furniture, office furniture, and motor vehicle seats. Based on U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census data, there were more than 19,000 domestic manufacturers of furniture in 1999, with U.S. producers shipments totaling an estimated $74 billion. The principal raw materials used to make furniture encompass a diverse range of products, including fabrics, cushions, plastics, furniture hardware, metal mill shapes, and wood. The principal types of lumber used by North American wood furniture manufacturers are oak, cherry, yellow poplar, maple, and pine. Processes used in the manufacture of furniture vary widely from customized work requiring skilled workers to mass production performed by high-speed machines. U.S. producers of furniture consist primarily of:(1) integrated manufacturers of either household or office furniture; (2) assemblers of pre-cut wood household or upholstered furniture; (3) niche producers; or (4) automotive seat producers.