UPDATE 1-Furniture Brands swings to first-quarter loss

NEW YORK, May 6 (Reuters) - Furniture Brands (FBN.N) on Wednesday said it swung to a loss in the first quarter amid a "severe downturn" in consumer spending.

The company, which makes furniture under a variety of names including Broyhill, Thomasville and Drexel Heritage, posted a loss from continuing operations of $4.1 million, or 9 cents a share, compared with a profit of $3.7 million, or 8 cents a share, a year earlier.

Analysts, on average, expected a loss of 33 cents a share, according to Reuters Estimates.

The St. Louis, Missouri-based company said revenue fell to $356.8 million from $477.2 million a year earlier. Analysts had expected a revenue of $388.9 million, according to Reuters Estimates.

"Since early 2008 we have been exercising increased discipline in our selling processes, cost controls, and in managing our capital base, " Chairman and Chief Executive Ralph Scozzafava said in a statement. (Reporting by Jui Chakravorty; Editing by Gary Hill)