Furniture Buying Index Drops 3 Points

The Furniture Buying Index dropped another three points this month to a reading of 67.  This is the second consecutive month the Index has experienced a downward move.
 
Britt Beemer, Chairman of Americas Research Group, said, Consumers are more focused on back-to-school shopping and essentials, and any big ticket purchase is being delayed for as long as possible.  This drop moves the Index back below the all-important level of 70 points or higher, where furniture retailers experience dramatic increases in sales, he stated.

Consumers continue to worry about the economy and those purchases which are not essential are being delayed, he concluded. 

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. 

2008

August 55

2009

August 55

September 57

October 57

November 56

December 59

2010

January 62

February  65

March 67

April 69

May 71

June 72

July 70

August 67