High Point Market Estimated Impact Reaches $6 Billion

The first major survey of the High Point Furniture Market in six years has been released, showing growth despite some political challenges for the international event.

The fallout from passage of the state's so-called “bathroom bill” led to a small dent in attendance a few years ago, and for foreign visitors, there were concerns raised by President Trump's first travel ban.

Despite it all, the market's economic impact has continued to grow. Researchers at Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill say the market pumps an annual $6.7 billion into the local economy.

That's an increase of more than $1 billion compared to a similar study conducted in 2013.

The study area looked at 22 counties in North Carolina and eight in Virginia. They were selected because they were all within an hour or so drive from downtown High Point.

Researchers looked only at the impact from the market itself, not the overall furniture industry.