--Furniture stores will continue to see strong sales growth--

Charleston, SC June 1, 2002 ---–The Furniture Buying Index continues to march upward, rising one point from 81 to 82. Furniture has consistently shown strong consumer support all year. It is important that the Index has moved up in the summer months where it previously has declined as consumers concentrate more on family vacations and less on their home.

“I’m ecstatic that the Index is moving upward,” said Britt Beemer, Chairman of America’s Research Group. He continued to say, “This suggests Summer 2002 will break all sales records for the furniture industry.”

Beemer added, “Memorial Day sales were very strong according to America’s Research Group’s clients, and that will lead into a strong July 4th weekend.”

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

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