The furniture industry celebrates successful results and forecasts a positive second half \u00a0 Furniture has become one of the priorities for Brazilians. Sales in the furniture and home appliances have grown at a much higher rate than the general retail in Brazil. The sector grew by 16.6% in 2011, while the general growth amounted to 6.7%. The first half of 2012 saw a growth of over 14.1% over the same period last year, while the overall rate was 9.1%. The figures show that this is one of the fastest growing segments in the country. \u00a0 Recent research shows furniture as one of the main priority items of Brazilian consumers. The GS&MD institute surveyed 360 Paulistas who have risen socially in the last five years, and the research showed that 7% of the respondents\u0092 main dream is to buy furniture. The Data Popular institute was hired by Sindm\u00f3veis of Bento Gon\u00e7alves to construct a profile of the consumer in the new Brazilian middle class. In 2011, purchases by this segment totaled R$ 1 trillion of which R$ 19.4 billion in furniture.\u00a0 \u00a0 The nominal growth rate of turnover from January to July this year was 10.6% higher than in the same period last year, as predicted by Sindm\u00f3veis. In the first half, exports by the furniture center in Bento Gon\u00e7alves (largest furniture producer in Brazil) grew by 6.6% over the same period in 2011. \u00a0 Two other good pieces of news that must boost the sector in the second half of the year are initiatives taken by the federal government. A further extension of the reduction on the tax on manufactured products (IPI) over furniture until the end of the year, although with limited effect. The other is the a credit line offered by Caixa Econ\u00f4mica Federal \u0096 Cred M\u00f3veis Caixa \u0096 aimed at the purchase of furniture and white goods offered to the participants in the My House My Life Program.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"