ANNOUNCER: A CNN viewer wants to know: How much or will the hoof-and-mouth disease epidemic affect the leather goods industry?</s>PATTY DAVIS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Leather industry experts say foot-and-mouth disease is affecting the leather industry. They say leather furniture prices have already gone up 20 percent in such places as High Point, North Carolina, a big furniture center. But it's not only foot-and-mouth. The scare over mad cow disease has people eating less beef. So there are fewer cattle being slaughtered, and because of both diseases, fewer hides to make into furniture or clothing. The problem is: not enough supply to meet demand. And that's pushing up prices for leather. Industry watchers say the leather industry is just beginning to feel the effects of the diseases. They expect prices to go up even more dramatically in the months ahead unless they're resolved quickly.
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