Haverty Furniture Cos.’ sales dipped 8.3 percent in August, as the company continued to weather the housing slowdown.

The Atlanta-based furniture retailer (NYSE: HVT – News) reported its August sales dropped to $70.7 million, compared with $77.1 million in August 2013. On a comparable-store basis, August sales fell 10.1 percent. Comparable-store sales do not include stores or locations opened, closed or otherwise non-comparable during the last 12 months.


“August comparable store sales were off by 10.1 percent versus strong results for the same month last year when comps had increased 10.3 percent,” said Clarence H. Smith, president and CEO. “Our total written business in August decreased 4.3 percent compared to last year. Early September sales are trending better with total written business for the Labor Day weekend off 3 percent compared to last year’s mid-teen percentage increase. In fact, written business this Labor Day set an all-time record for any single day at Havertys.”

Sales through August decreased 9.4 percent to $516.7 million, compared with $570.6 million in the same period of 2013. On a comparable-store basis, sales decreased 11 percent through August.

Published September 6, 2014 by the Atlanta Business Chronicle