Articles

Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for April 2026 were $757.1 billion, up 0.5% from the previous month, and up 4.9% from April 2025, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.  Read More

U.S. import prices increased 1.9% in April, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported, following a 0.9% rise in March.  Read More

Certified Flooring Installers (CFI) has announced the 2026 Synergy Convention & Expo will take place November 10 to 12 at the Marriott Chattanooga Downtown in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Read More

Associated Builders and Contractors reported that its Construction Backlog Indicator rose to 8.8 months in April, according to an ABC member survey conducted from April 20 to May 4. The reading is up 0.2 months from March and up 0.1 months from April 2025.  Read More

The Producer Price Index for final demand increased 1.4% in April, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.  Read More

Mortgage applications increased 1.7% from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending May 8. Read More

Construction input prices increased 1.7% in April compared to the previous month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price Index data. Nonresidential construction input prices increased 1.8% for the month. Read More

Year over year, the all-items index of consumer prices rose 3.8%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with the top five contributors to that rise fuel oil, gasoline, airline fares, fruits and vegetables and hospital services. Read More

Analyst Stump provided the following review of HD Expo, the annual hospitality show in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, which took place May 5 to 7. Read More

LX Hausys America announced the launch of the LX Hausys Design Council, a cross-channel group created to integrate real-world market feedback directly into the company’s product development process. Comprised of interior design, stone fabrication, distribution and home center professionals, the council will help ensure future Viatera introductions align with evolving customer expectations, regional design preferences and application needs. Read More