Jun 16, 2009. /Lesprom Network/. The change that comes with the Obama administration is bringing bucks - and none too soon - for a challenged office furniture industry, reports Chicago Sun-Times. The industry is focusing more on government contracts to stay afloat these days in the wake of private business putting brakes on spending. Overall, U.S. furniture sales for 2009 are expected to drop about 19 percent from last year, to $9 billion, according to the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer's Association. The federal government, though, in the first half of its 2009 fiscal year has already spent about $3.6 billion - a 156 percent increase over its expenditures in all of 2008. Much of it has to do with a new Obama administration and a new crew buying new items, said Mark Falanga, senior vice president at Merchandise Mart Properties Inc, which kicks off the three-day 2009 NeoCon office furniture and design show today at the Merchandise Mart. Management expects a 20 percent decline in attendance this year, to 40,000. "Every time there's a change of administration there's a spike in spending," he said. "This time, there's not only a change in administration, but a party change." Office furniture and design companies actually started changing their emphasis after a 2000-2001 economic downturn, when they sought more stable clients. "Before 2000, a lot of work was flowing into the tech companies. When the tech bubble burst and went away, manufacturers started focusing on the federal government," Falanga said. Government is actually driving production, as products must meet requirements to be listed among approved merchandise. "The federal government has really become a leader in the design, building and sustainability," Falanga said. "There was a time when they'd get three or four quotes and go with the lowest quote. Now, they look at productivity and quality and longevity of their furniture."