Articles

New listings of U.S. homes for sale are down 1.3% week over week, one of the biggest declines of the year, says Redfin. Read More

Nonfarm business sector labor productivity increased 0.3% in Q1 2026, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported, as output increased 1.0% and hours worked increased 0.7%. (All quarterly percent changes in this release are seasonally adjusted annualized rates.)  Read More

U.S. countertop material imports totaled $275.5 million in March 2026, a 23.6% decline from March 2025 and a sharp acceleration from January's 14.5% drop. Natural stone categories pulled in $174.5 million, down 21.2% year over year, while engineered quartz fell harder at 27.5% to $101.1 million. Every major category posted a decline. Granite was hit hardest, dropping 42.3% to $31.4 million as Brazilian shipments collapsed 72%. Marble proved most resilient, slipping just 9.7% to $75.9 million. Read More

We wanted to bring to your attention two seemingly conflicting developments regarding US tariffs on products from India. Read More

Domotex Asia/Chinafloor 2026, held in Shanghai, China May 27 to 29, attracted 83,887 visitors, a slight increase from 2025’s 83,056 attendees.  Read More

Mortgage applications decreased 2.5% from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending May 29. Read More

Single-family home construction declined across all geographic regions in Q1 2026 due to economic uncertainty, high material costs and elevated interest rates, while multifamily construction showed growth in most areas, according to the latest findings from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Home Building Geography Index (HBGI). Read More

New orders for manufactured goods in April, up five of the last six months, increased $30.1 billion or 4.8% to $662.7 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported. This followed a 1.8% March increase.  Read More

For many flooring retailers, the commercial market represents one of the biggest long-term growth opportunities in the industry. Read More

For residential flooring dealers considering a move into commercial work, industry experts say a measured, strategic approach is critical. Rather than immediately pursuing large-scale projects, many recommend building experience gradually and investing in the right infrastructure before expanding further. Key steps include: Read More