01.18.10| It was neither the best of times nor the worst of times. While we in the U.S. continue, generally, our charmed lives, there were events and circumstances in the interiors industries to bemoan and many that brought joy and hope. The economy finally struck us with full force, and by the end of November, contract furniture orders were $620 million for the month, with estimated trailing 12-month orders at $7.77 billion, down 30.2% year-over-year. November shipments were $640 million, with trailing 12-month shipments estimated at $8.025 billion, a 28.9% year-over-year decrease -- "the worst drop we have on record," said Raymond James analyst Budd Bugatch. Still, every drastic shift brings the prospect of an inflection point, and we look forward to seeing what we have learn from 2009. Here are a few of the salient developments covered last year by officeinsight.

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