Despite the housing recovery and the improving economy, purchases of sofas, recliners and coffee tables have slowed for the first time in four months, according to BizJournals.com.
Summerville, S.C.-based America's Research Group Ltd.'s Furniture Buying Index reported that sales slid by 4 points to 70 this month. This returned the index to the same level it hit in February, the website reports. Last year, it was at 73.
But Northeast Ohio furniture stores have seen an increase in sales, and said that people are still buying despite a slow recovery. One furniture store owner said that sales are up 8 percent over last year after dropping 30 percent between 2006 and 2009.