Haverty Furniture Reports Sales for September ATLANTA, Oct. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- HAVERTY FURNITURE COMPANIES, INC. (NYSE:HVTNYSE:andNYSE:HVT.A) today reported sales for the month ended September 30, 2004. Havertys' September sales decreased 5.8% to $61.4 million compared with $65.2 million in September 2003. On a comparable-store basis, September sales decreased 8.4%. Comparable-store sales do not include locations opened, closed or otherwise non-comparable during the last 12 months. Sales for the first nine months of 2004 totaled $567.4 million versus $539.4 million for 2003, representing an increase of 5.2%. On a comparable-store basis, sales increased 1.7% for the first nine months. Sales in Millions Total Comparable- Sales Store Sales (unaudited) % Change % Change 2004 2003 September $61.4 $65.2 -5.8% -8.4% Third Quarter $197.4 $195.4 +1.1% -1.0% Nine Months $567.4 $539.4 + 5.2% + 1.7% Clarence H. Smith, president and chief executive officer, said, "September sales were negatively impacted by record breaking weather. Four hurricanes and the accompanying flooding hindered sales in many of our markets. We estimate that the severe weather had an approximate 4.3% negative impact on comparable-store sales for September. This month was also a tough comparison to last year's 11.6% comp increase when consumer spending was stronger driven in part by federal tax relief. "We are currently working with our customers to reschedule deliveries disrupted by the storms. Our undelivered sales at the end of the quarter are approximately equal to the levels of one year ago. Although it is not possible to estimate the amount of incremental sales that will be generated from customers replacing items damaged by the storms, we do have all of our stores open in the affected areas, except one that should reopen by early November. "Other expenses for the third quarter will include our insurance deductible amounts and the lower delivered sales level will not allow an opportunity for leveraging normal operating costs. "Customers have responded favorably to our currently advertised "Harvest" sales event with total sales orders up by a high teen percentage during the first five days of October." Havertys is a full-service home furnishings retailer with 115 showrooms in 15 southern and central states 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 http://www.havertys.com/. This release includes 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. DATASOURCE: Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc. CONTACT: Dennis L. Fink, EVP & CFO or Jenny Hill Parker, VP, Secretary & Treasurer, both of Havertys, +1-404-443-2900 Web site: http://www.havertys.com/

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