--Index drops for the fourth consecutive month--

Charleston, SC April 1, 2001 - --- The Furniture Buying Index declines yet another 2 points resulting in a reading of 69 for this month. Keep in mind this is the fourth month that a drop has been recorded in the index.

"This is not the best news for furniture retailers considering the fact we are approaching the spring furniture market held in High Point, North Carolina," cites Britt Beemer, chairman of America=s Research Group. "Retailers need to hope the index quickly rebounds to a reading above the 70 point critical level."

Mr. Beemer concludes "promotions will be tough at this time since for every seven promotions a retailer will run, only four will be successful."

The Furniture Buying Index is compiled each month by America's Research Group from interviews with 5,000-8,000 consumers across the country. In a typical month, 80 percent of the consumers interviewed can name a specific furniture item they intend to buy. The Index's mark signifies what percent of the benchmark 80% actually have a particular item in mind.

Britt Beemer is chairman of America's Research Group, a full-service consumer behavior research company based in Charleston, SC. ARG provides research and strategic planning services to leading manufacturers and retailers of consumer goods across North America.

For more information call:
C. Britt Beemer
800-723-3253 or REQUEST MORE INFORMATION

Return to Furniture Buying Index