-- Furniture Buying Index slightly increases --

Charleston, SC October 2, 2006 – The Furniture Buying Index is up by three points to a reading of 76. The Index is not what it was last October, but after declining for the past couple of months, is finally on the rise.

Britt Beemer, Chairman of America’s Research Group, said, “Lower gas prices are having an immediate positive impact on consumers.” He continued, “This has influenced consumers’ interest in buying new furniture, and as gas prices continue to decrease, hopefully this trend will continue.”

Beemer added, “However, the Furniture Buying Index is still below 80, so furniture retailers will still have to be inventive in their advertising to draw consumers into their stores.”

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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