Articles

The goods and services deficit was $61.5 billion in November, down $16.3 billion from $77.8 billion in October, revised, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Read More

Reviews are more important than ever because people trust what others say much more than they trust what you (the brand) say, observed Shannon Vogel, owner of Reach Social. “If people know what to expect because others have shared their experience, there is a higher level of buying confidence.” Read More

"The U.S. economy showed fresh signs of slowing late this year as consumer spending and business demand softened and inflation eased,” reports the Wall Street Journal. Read More

High mortgage rates, elevated construction costs running well above the inflation rate and flagging consumer demand due to deteriorating affordability conditions have dragged builder sentiment down every month in 2022. Read More

Mohawk Industries, Inc. announced today that it has entered into an agreement to purchase the Vitromex ceramic tile business from Grupo Industrial Saltillo (GIS) for approximately $293 million in cash. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2022 and is subject to the approval of GIS’s shareholders, as well as customary government approvals and closing conditions. The Vitromex business is expected to be accretive to Mohawk's earnings. Read More

At a time when the flooring industry is working furiously to come up with solutions to supply chain issues, installer shortages and ever-changing product demands, what is it to toss another log on the pyre? Money is being pulled off the table for someone when an inspector is called, whether that is the homeowner, building owner, the retailer, the installer, the builder or the floorcovering manufacturer. Someone pays when an installation goes awry. But how do you know if the person responsible for passing judgment is going to tell the truth? How do you know if the credentials that inspector is flashing are legitimate? Who is policing the flooring police? Read More

Ceramic tiles stand out for their limitless visual potential, their versatile applications and properties such as their durability and resistance. But what contributions does this material make to the environment and to the current economy? Read More

The term “resilient” is often used to describe a community, business or even a natural area that demonstrates strength during hardship and the ability to adjust under pressure. “Resilient” is also the name for a category of flooring products that possess the physical strength and flexibility to stand up to nearly anything your family can throw at it, spill on it, drop on it, or run across it. It has more “give” than hardwood, stone, cement, or ceramic tile but less than carpet, making it an ideal choice for everyday life. Read More

Strong growth in house prices and rapidly rising mortgage rates have taken their toll on the housing market this year. Housing starts have declined more than 20 percent since hitting over 1.8 million nationally on a seasonally adjusted and annualized rate in April. The consensus among industry experts is that starts will decline even further — probably another 10 percent to 15 percent next year over 2022 levels — before beginning a recovery in 2024 as interest rates and house prices moderate. Read More

According to new data from Research and Markets, the construction industry in the U.S. is expected to grow by 6.5. percent to reach $1,338,125 million in 2022, and the growth momentum is expected to continue through 2026 with a 5.5 percent compound annual growth rate. The report forecasts that construction output is expected to reach $1,658,038.6 million by 2026, which is largely supported by apartment construction. Read More