Furniture Buying Index Rises Two Points

Britt Beemer, Chairman of America’s Research Group, said, “Although the Furniture Buying Index rose slightly this month, it is well below the 70 point level retailers need to see strong traffic in their stores.” 

“Consumer debt and stock market losses continue to haunt shoppers,” Beemer commented.  “These and other negative influencers are forcing consumers not to shop for furniture at the present time,” 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.