ATLANTA, Oct. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc. (NYSE: HVT; HVT.A) today reported sales for the month ended September 30, 2006. Havertys' September sales increased 8.0% to $72.4 million compared with $67.1 million in September 2005. On a comparable-store basis, September sales increased 6.4%. 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 2006 totaled $643.1 million versus $602.1 million for 2005, representing an increase of 6.8%. On a comparable-store basis, sales increased 5.0% for the first nine months. Sales in Millions Total Comparable- (unaudited) Sales Store Sales 2006 2005 % Change % Change September $72.4 $67.1 + 8.0 % + 6.4 % Third Quarter $222.9 $202.0 + 10.3 % + 8.2 % Nine Months $643.1 $602.1 + 6.8 % + 5.0 % Clarence H. Smith, president and chief executive officer, said, "Comparable-store sales were very good once again in September. A much better in-stock position relative to last year continues to allow for faster and more reliable scheduling of home deliveries to our customers. An extra Saturday in this year's September calendar also contributed to our favorable results. Our total written sales for the month were up over September last year by a low single-digit percentage with weakness evident after strong increases for Labor Day week end. "Preliminary indications of gross profit margins for the third quarter are below the levels that were achieved for the second quarter of this year as there was more clearance activity than planned. We are just kicking off a series of TV commercials created by our new advertising agency, Fitzgerald & Company of Atlanta. The "HAVE it all" campaign will strengthen the connection between Havertys brand and our customers' desire to create homes reflecting their personal style." Havertys is a full-service home furnishings retailer with 119 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, +1-404-443-2900, both of Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc. Web site: http://www.havertys.com/

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