The monthly Furniture Buying Index, compiled by America's Research Group, remained flat at a reading of 72 for February.
"Consumers are in the mood for shopping, and not necessarily buying at this time of the year," said Britt Beemer, chairman of America's Research Group. "Americans are waiting to make big ticket purchases to see if their employers will continue to pay for their health insurance coverage at the same rate as they have in the past. Consumers are worried they may see higher deductions taken out of their pay checks for insurance costs in the coming months."
The Furniture Buying Index is compiled each month from interviews with between 5,000 and 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 percent actually have a particular item in mind.
