11.   Some industry watchers blame a national drop in new-home construction and stagnant furniture sales over the past five years.

12.   The surplus in the used market also is having an impact on new furniture sales.

13.   Thus appliance sales, furniture sales tend to follow housing activity and that is what appeared to bother the market.

14.   Traditionally, casual furniture sales peak in the spring and silverware sales are strongest in the fall.

15.   When the mart has a major furniture sale, customers are channeled past job booths staffed with interviewers.

16.   With furniture sales dropping and gloomy economic news, manufacturers are playing it safe by introducing proven styles at the spring International Home Furnishings Market, which opened Thursday.

17.   There were gains in all durable sectors except furniture sales, the Commerce Department said.

18.   Sales of television sets and cosmetics showed positive movements, although furniture sales were stagnant.