Haverty Furniture sales down 15% in 2009

New York City Haverty Furniture Cos. reported its sales for 2009 fell nearly 15%, but improvement showed in the fourth quarter.

Sales totaled $588.3 million, down 14.9% from $691.1 million in 2008. On a same-store sales basis, annual sales decreased 14.2%.

Meanwhile, fourth-quarter sales rose 0.4% to $162.4 million. Same-store sales for the quarter grew 2%.

"We are pleased to return to positive comparable store sales territory for our fourth quarter,” said Clarence H. Smith, president and CEO. “Total written sales during the quarter were up 1.4%. Gross profit margins have held up well even in this promotional selling environment."