Articles
Total Construction Starts Rose 6% in August on Commercial Increase
Total construction starts rose 6% in August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.3 trillion, according to Dodge Construction Network. Nonresidential starts rose 40% thanks to a large pickup in manufacturing and transportation buildings. Residential and nonbuilding starts fell 1% and 14%, respectively. Read More
Housing Starts Down 11.3% in August Driven by Multifamily
Privately‐owned housing starts in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,283,000, 11.3% below the revised July estimate of 1,447,000 and 14.8% below the August 2022 rate of 1,505,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Read More
Expanding Options
Flooring suppliers are truly taking their global sourcing operations worldwide. As the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) continues to cause massive disruptions to the importation of flooring products, particularly the most popular segment, luxury vinyl tile (LVT), manufacturers are proactively searching for new sourcing alternatives, spanning the globe from India to Mexico. In addition, many are significantly expanding their U.S. manufacturing operations. Read More
Builder Confidence Slid 5 Points to 45 in September
Builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes in September fell five points to 45, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). This follows a six-point drop in August. Read More
Choosing the Best Ceramic Tile for Your Project
The vast array of ceramic tile designs, shapes, sizes, and colors gives you the optimum advantage when choosing ceramic tile. The best ceramic tile can really compliment the personal aesthetic you have planned for your home. Where to Find the Right Ceramic Tile You can purchase ceramic tile through many outlets, ranging from home improvement stores to showrooms to online retailers. In all cases, it is important to: Read More
Ceramic Imports Declined by 7.8% YOY in First Seven Months of 2023
In the first seven months of 2023 total U.S. imports of ceramic tile were 109 million square meters, a decline of 7.8% from the same period in 2022 when imports were 118 million square meters, according to Grosser Consulting. Read More
Single-Family Construction Slowdown Hitting Large Metro Areas Hardest
Rising mortgage rates and elevated construction costs have taken a toll on the pace of single-family construction in markets across the nation, with the slowdown most pronounced in large metro areas. Multifamily market growth also fell in most areas of the country, according to the latest findings from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Home Building Geography Index (HBGI) for Q2 2023. Read More