--Furniture buying is on the minds of shoppers this summer --

Charleston, SC June 1, 2004 – The Furniture Buying Index is up one point this month to a reading of 91. This makes the Index the highest it has been since September of 1999. This high rating means that the furniture buying desire remains high for high-end, moderate and low-end furniture buyers.

Britt Beemer, Chairman of America’s Research Group, said, “The strong Memorial Day furniture shopping reflected a desire for consumers to make their homes more livable, desirable and beautiful.” Beemer continued, “This strong Memorial Day furniture shopping indicates that furniture buying is on the minds of shoppers this summer, and furniture retailers should expect a strong summer shopping season.”

Beemer added, “This summer should be one the biggest furniture shopping seasons in the last five years. Retailers should focus on the furniture, not zero percent financing because consumers must see what they want to buy.”

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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