seriously, you have got to be kidding me if you are saying that you haven't seen articles about what is happening to the furniture industry in north carolina. a simple google news search will turn up many articles that mention it:
http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSJ%2FMGArticle%2FWSJ_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031782378536&path=!business&s=1037645507703
Look, ISM reports that the furniture sector is expanding. ISM goes by SIC classifications . . . for all we know the sector includes the manufacturing of lighting. Making your fixation on the North Carolina furniture industry, well, odd.