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South

By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, December 24, 2006

In terms of population and geographical area, the South is the nation's biggest region. It also accounts for the greatest share of furniture and bedding sales — an estimated 36% of all 2006 sales. In the South, sales are projected to reach $39.1 billion in 2011, up 29% from $30.3 billion in 2006.

More than two-fifths of the 150 major metropolitan areas across the United States expected to exceed the national average in furniture and bedding growth are in the South. Of the 68 metros projected to grow more than 27%, 17 are in Florida; 14 in Texas; nine in North Carolina; eight in Georgia; four in South Carolina; three in Virginia; two each in Alabama, Arkansas, Maryland and Tennessee; and one each in the District of Columbia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi and Oklahoma.

The five major metropolitan areas showing the fastest growth are New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, La., with predicted growth of 54%; Naples-Marco Island and Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Fla., each at 42%; and Port St. Lucie-Fort Pierce, Fla., and Gainesville, Ga., each with expected growth of 40%.

Florida is projected to have the fastest furniture and bedding sales growth in the South over the next five years, with Miami, Tampa and Orlando leading the parade. If Florida meets its projected increase of 33% in furniture and bedding sales, hitting $7.1 billion by 2011, its retailers will definitely believe it lives up to its sunshine state nickname.

Georgia and Texas are ranked second and third in terms of projected sales growth. Georgia's furniture and bedding sales are projected to increase 31% to $3.3 billion, and Texas is slated to grow 31% to $8 billion by 2011.

The South is headquarters for 38 of the Top 100 furniture stores, including No. 1 Rooms To Go.

	2006 estimated	2011 projected	% change
Population	1,530,617	1,696,810	11%
Total households	601,938	681,530	13%
Average household income	$68,795	$88,354	28%

A snapshot of Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord, N.C.
Spending by category
In millions
	2006 estimated	2011 projected	% change
All furniture and bedding	$455.1	$615.2	35%
Master bedroom	49.8	67.4	35
Youth, other adult bedroom furniture	27.8	38.3	38
Casual dining	19.9	27.3	37
Dining room furniture	32.9	45.5	38
Entertainment furniture	27.7	38.4	39
Curios	8.1	11.0	36
Occasional tables	25.3	34.6	37
Desks and other home office furniture	32.3	44.7	38
Stationary sofas	$62.8	$84.8	35
Stationary chairs	7.8	10.6	36
Reclining chairs	19.8	25.8	30
Swivel, glider rockers	7.7	10.0	30
Motion sofas	18.6	24.7	33
Sofa-sleepers, futons	15.8	20.4	29
Mattress, boxsprings	63.3	84.0	33
Infant furniture	6.4	8.8	38
Outdoor furniture	16.2	22.1	36
Other misc. furniture	12.9	16.8	30

South
Largest sales volume, 2006
In millions
	Furniture & bedding sales
Metropolitan area	2006 estimated	2011 projected	% change
Note: Metros in bold are projected to grow furniture and bedding sales faster than the national average. Source: Easy Analytic Software and Furniture/Today market research
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas	$1,650.0	$2,221.2	35
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, D.C.-Va.-Md.-W. Va.	1,645.2	2,107.1	28
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Miami Beach, Fla.	1,562.0	2,044.4	31
Houston-Baytown-Sugar Land, Texas	1,457.4	1,917.3	32
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, Ga.	1,391.4	1,870.8	34
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla.	825.6	1,088.6	32
Baltimore-Towson, Md.	806.7	1,003.1	24
Orlando, Fla.	549.3	757.6	38
San Antonio, Texas	497.4	658.6	32
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, Va.-N.C.	479.2	610.9	28
Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord, N.C.-S.C.	455.1	615.2	35
Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro, Tenn.	423.5	549.1	30
Austin-Round Rock, Texas	423.1	578.7	37
Jacksonville, Fla.	369.3	497.1	35
Louisville, Ky.-Ind.	364.7	457.1	25
Memphis, Tenn.-Miss.-Ark.	357.8	450.6	26
Richmond, Va.	356.5	458.1	28
Oklahoma City, Okla.	335.2	427.4	27
Birmingham-Hoover, Ala.	322.2	401.5	25
Raleigh-Cary, N.C.	291.1	405.4	39

South
Fastest projected growth, 2006–2011
In millions
	Furniture & bedding sales
Metropolitan area	2006 estimated	2011 projected	% change
Source: Easy Analytic Software and Furniture/Today market research
Palm Coast, Fla.	$24.1	$38.8	61
New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, La.	239.4	369.6	54
Naples-Marco Island, Fla.	100.4	142.8	42
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Fla.	172.8	244.6	42
Port St. Lucie-Fort Pierce, Fla.	117.9	165.1	40
The Villages, Fla.	18.7	26.2	40
Gainesville, Ga.	42.8	59.8	40
Raleigh-Cary, N.C.	291.1	405.4	39
McAllen-Edinburg-Pharr, Texas	128.5	178.4	39
Ocala, Fla.	89.4	123.3	38
Orlando, Fla.	549.3	757.6	38
Warner Robins, Ga.	36.3	50.0	38
Laredo, Texas	41.7	57.2	37
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, Ark.-Mo.	113.0	155.1	37
Austin-Round Rock, Texas	423.1	578.7	37
Statesville-Mooresville, N.C.	40.5	55.4	37
Granbury, Texas	16.4	22.4	37
Daphne-Fairhope, Ala.	47.6	64.9	36
Dunn, N.C.	28.4	38.7	36
Lake City, Fla.	17.2	23.3	36

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