INFORMATION
101 South Hanley Road
St. Louis, Missouri 63105
314-863-1100
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FURNITURE BRANDS INTERNATIONAL REPORTS RECORD SALES
AND EARNINGS PER SHARE PERFORMANCE IN 2000

St. Louis, Missouri, January 25, 2001 -- Furniture Brands International
(NYSE:FBN) announced today operating results for the fourth quarter and full
year ended December 31, 2000, which included the company's 7th consecutive year
of record sales and earnings per share performance.

Net sales for the fourth quarter were $519.4 million, off 0.3% from the same
quarter in 1999. For the full year 2000, net sales were $2,116.2 million,
representing a 1.3% increase over 1999, and another record year in sales.

Net earnings for the fourth quarter were $24.3 million, a decrease of 16.6% from
the same quarter last year, and diluted net earnings per common share for the
fourth quarter were $0.48, a decrease of 17.2%. For the full year 2000, net
earnings were $108.4 million, down 3.1% from the comparable period in 1999.
Diluted net earnings per common share for the full year were $2.15, a slight
increase over 1999, and once again representing record earnings per share
performance. The full year comparisons exclude a second quarter extraordinary
item (expense) related to early extinguishment of debt.

Excluding noncash charges for depreciation and amortization related to a 1992
asset revaluation (and before the extraordinary item), the company would have
reported diluted net earnings per common share of $0.53 for the fourth quarter
and $2.36 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2000.

The company's operating results included two non-recurring items that, after
taking into account the impact of income taxes, substantially offset each other.
The first was a $7.6 million cash dividend from the company's minority interest
in a company which owns real estate, which is included in "Other Income - Net."
This offset a $10.5 million increase in bad debt expense attributable to the
recent failure of several large customers, which is included in "Selling,
General and Administrative Expenses."

"2000 was a transition year for our company and our industry," stated W. G.
(Mickey) Holliman, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Like many
other segments of the domestic economy, we had favorable sales and earnings
comparisons for the first half, but saw a significant slowdown during the second
half. We are very satisfied with how the management team at each operating
company responded to these difficult business conditions, and we are pleased to
have been able to report record sales and earnings per share results for the
year."

"Inventory levels at the end of the third quarter were over $30 million higher
than budgeted levels, but are now generally back in line with incoming orders,
some $31 million less than at the end of the last quarter. This is evidence of
our strong commitment to wise use of our working capital. Our strong cash flow
in 2000 -- and particularly in the fourth quarter -- has enabled us to reduce
long-term debt by $73.1 million and to fund $53.3 million in capital
expenditures during the year. Our long-term debt is now at $462 million, rapidly
approaching the 40% debt to capitalization target we have previously announced.
Depending on business conditions, we hope to reach that target by mid-year or
earlier, and gain flexibility in the use of our cash going forward."

Mr. Holliman continued, "We continue to see weakness in consumer spending in our
sector. We believe the current soft economic conditions will continue through
the first quarter of 2001, and perhaps through the first half, and we have
planned our operating activities accordingly. We now anticipate that first
quarter 2001 sales will be below those reported for the same period last year,
in the mid-single digit range, but assuming the expected improvement of business
conditions in the second half we expect sales for the full year 2001 to be
modestly higher than in 2000. We now anticipate first quarter earnings per share
to be in the $0.50 to $0.55 range, and for the full year ending December 31,
2001, to be $2.25 to $2.35."

Mr. Holliman concluded, "We are excited about our opportunities in the coming
year. We believe the important strategic steps we have taken over the past
several years - realigning our dealer base, increasing dedicated retail space,
and expanding our sourcing strategy to include a growing import system - have
positioned us well for the current business environment. In addition, our
financial strength is improving daily as we near completion of our deleveraging
plan. We believe we are in an enviable position to grow market share on an even
more profitable basis going forward."

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe
harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
These forward looking statements include the company's expected sales, earnings
per share, profit margins, and cash flow for the first quarter and full year
2001, the effects of certain manufacturing realignments and other business
strategies, the prospects for the overall business environment, and other
statements containing the words "expects," "anticipates," "estimates,"
"believes," and words of similar import. The company cautions investors that any
such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and
that certain factors may cause actual results to differ materially from those in
the forward-looking statements. Such factors may include: overall business and
economic conditions and growth in the furniture industry; changes in customer
spending patterns and demand for home furnishings; competitive factors, such as
design and marketing efforts by other furniture manufacturers; pricing
pressures; success of the marketing efforts of retailers and the prospects for
further customer failures; the company's success in furniture design and
manufacture; the effects of manufacturing realignments and cost savings
programs; and other risk factors listed from time to time in the company's
public releases and SEC reports.

A conference call will be held to discuss the third quarter results at 1:00 P.M.
(Central Time) on January 25, 2001. The call can be accessed at
www.streetfusion.com, or by visiting the company's website at
www.furniturebrands.com.

CONSOLIDATED OPERATING RESULTS
(Dollars in thousands except per share)

Three Months Ended Twelve MonthsEnded
December 31, December 31,
2000 1999 2000 1999
---- ---- ---- ----

Net sales.................................................. $519,467 $521,169 $2,116,239 $2,088,112
Costs and expenses:
Cost of operations....................................... 381,044 376,886 1,529,874 1,498,622
Selling, general and administrative expenses............. 89,920 77,598 335,596 321,205
Depreciation and amortization (A)........................ 12,760 12,732 58,155 56,528
Earnings from operations................................... 35,743 53,953 192,614 211,757

Interest expense........................................... 8,745 9,221 36,389 37,577
Other income, net.......................................... 7,674 798 9,772 2,584
Earnings before income tax expense
and extraordinary item.................................... 34,672 45,530 165,997 176,764
Income tax expense......................................... 10,365 16,379 57,574 64,854
Net earnings before extraordinary item..................... 24,307 29,151 108,423 111,910
Extraordinary item (B)..................................... - - (2,522) -
Net earnings............................................... $ 24,307 $29,151 $ 105,901 $111,910

Net earnings per common share (diluted):
As reported -
Before extraordinary item........................... $0.48 $0.58 $2.15 $2.14
Extraordinary item.................................. - - (0.05) -
Total............................................ $0.48 $0.58 $2.10 $2.14

As adjusted - (C)
Before extraordinary item........................... $0.53 $0.63 $2.36 $2.34
Extraordinary item.................................. - - (0.05) -
Total............................................ $0.53 $0.63 $2.31 $2.34

Average diluted common shares
outstanding (in thousands)............................... 50,504 50,562 50,443 52,335

(A) Includes $3,267 and $3,320 for the three months ended December 31, 2000 and
1999, respectively, and $13,546 and $13,155 for the twelve months ended
December 31, 2000 and 1999, respectively, related to the 1992 asset
revaluation.

(B) Early extinguishment of debt, net of tax benefit.

FURNITURE BRANDS INTERNATIONAL

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollars in thousands)

December 31, December 31,
2000 1999

Assets

Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents......................................................... $ 14,606 $ 7,409
Receivables, net.................................................................. 351,804 345,385
Inventories....................................................................... 294,454 285,395
Prepaid expenses and other current assets......................................... 30,717 33,711
Total current assets............................................................ 691,581 671,900
Net property, plant and equipment................................................... 303,235 297,746
Intangible assets................................................................... 289,895 303,446
Other assets........................................................................ 20,127 15,742
$1,304,838 $1,288,834

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

Current liabilities:
Accrued interest expense.......................................................... $ 7,646 $ 1,762
Accounts payable and other accrued expenses....................................... 135,472 152,102
Total current liabilities....................................................... 143,118 153,864
Long-term debt ..................................................................... 462,000 535,100
Other long-term liabilities......................................................... 115,815 125,673

Shareholders' equity................................................................ 583,905 474,197

$1,304,838 $1,288,834