Dec 21, 2009. /Lesprom Network/. The Brazilian government's decision to extend the exemption of IPI (Tax on Industrialized Products) for the furniture industry should generate a 6% increase in sales in December. Wooden furniture currently attracts a 5% IPI but this will become zero until March 31, 2010, ITTO reported. An optimistic view was also expressed by the Brazilian Furniture Manufacturers Association Abimóvel which believes that sales could grow 15% in the 1Q 2010. However, the sector was showing a sign of recovery even before the tax exemption measure was announced. The ready availability of credit has contributed to stabilise sales. Analysts point out that the tax exemption measure took too long to be defined but, never-the-less, it should bring many benefits to the furniture sector. The furniture manufacturing sector has had a difficult time because most sales are export-oriented and exports have fallen as result of the economic crisis.