ATLANTA, April 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- HAVERTY FURNITURE COMPANIES, INC. (NYSE: HVT; HVT.A) today reported sales for the month ended March 31, 2006. Havertys' sales for March increased 2.1% to $74.7 million compared with $73.2 million for March 2005. On a comparable-store basis, March sales increased 0.7%. Sales for the first quarter of 2006 increased 0.7% to $209.1 million compared with $207.6 million in 2005. On a comparable-store basis, sales decreased 0.6% for the first quarter. Comparable-store sales do not include locations opened, closed or otherwise non-comparable during the last 12 months. Sales in Millions (unaudited) Total Comparable-Store Sales Sales 2006 2005 % Change % Change March $74.7 $73.2 + 2.1% + 0.7% First Quarter $209.1 $207.6 + 0.7% - 0.6% Clarence H. Smith, president & chief executive officer said, "Our March sales trends improved relative to our results in recent months. Comparable- store sales last year were up by 10.8%, setting a high hurdle for this year's comparison. We are seeing signals that our merchandise and marketing initiatives are having a positive impact. Our total written business grew progressively stronger in March and was up by a mid-single-digit percent against last year's very strong month. "We are excited about this month's opening of our new store adjacent to Stonecrest Mall in a growing market southeast of Atlanta. This shopping destination serves rapidly developing areas in DeKalb, Rockdale and Henry counties." Havertys 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 http://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. Contact for Information: Dennis L. Fink, EVP & CFO or Jenny Hill Parker, VP, Secretary & Treasurer (404) 443-2900 DATASOURCE: Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc. CONTACT: Dennis L. Fink, EVP & CFO or Jenny Hill Parker, VP, Secretary & Treasurer of Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc., +1-404-443-2900 Web site: http://www.havertys.com/

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