According to Mike Hudgens, Southeast regional manager of CIT Commercial Services, growth in the U.S. furniture industry continues to outpace the U.S. economy, due in large part to strong performances in bedroom and dining room furnishing sales. While housing continues to improve and discretionary spending increases, the sector should continue to improve through the remainder of the year and into 2016.

In a wide-ranging interview, Hudgens provides an overview of the furniture sector and discusses subjects encompassing interest rates, executive concerns, the lingering impact of the West Coast port shutdown, China, onshoring and what’s in store for the new year.