ATLANTA, Jul 07, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

HAVERTY FURNITURE COMPANIES, INC. (NYSE: HVT and HVT.A) today reported sales for the quarter ended June 30, 2011.

Havertys' sales for the second quarter 2011 decreased 1.4% to $143.1 million, compared with $145.1 million for the second quarter of 2010. On a comparable store basis, sales for the quarter decreased 1.4%. Comparable store sales do not include locations opened, closed or otherwise non-comparable during the last 12 months. Sales for the first six months of 2011 totaled $297.3 million, compared with $301.1 million in 2010, representing a decrease of 1.3%. On a comparable store basis, sales decreased 1.0% for the first six months.

Written sales for the second quarter 2011 increased 0.2% over the same quarter last year.

Clarence H. Smith, president and chief executive officer, said, "Our first and second quarter 2011 sales faced tough matchups to the double-digit comp-store increases in the first half of 2010 as housing activity had been stimulated by the home buyer tax credits. The second half of the year is usually stronger than the first and our sales comparisons to the 3.0% comp-store increases for the last six months of 2010 will not be as challenging. Our written sales for early July, including the important Independence Day weekend, were up modestly over the same period last year which had also generated an increase. We remain cautious as consumer spending for home furnishings is reflective of housing values and activity which persist at extraordinarily low levels. Our focus is on providing merchandise with exceptional quality and value, continuing to invest in our store base, and executing other key elements of our strategy for long-term growth."

Havertys, established in 1885, is a full-service home furnishings retailer with 118 showrooms in 17 states in the Southern and Midwestern regions providing its customers with a wide selection of quality merchandise in middle- to upper-middle price ranges. Additional information is available on the Company's website at www.havertys.com.

News releases include forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainties. Factors that might cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, the consumer spending environment for large ticket items, competition in the retail furniture industry and other uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company's reports filed with the SEC.

SOURCE: Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc.

Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc.,
Dennis L. Fink, 404-443-2900
EVP & CFO
or
Jenny Hill Parker, 404-443-2900
SVP, Finance, Secretary and Treasurer