Articles

U.S. floor coverings sales strengthened in 2017 due to rising consumer confidence and sharper increases in single-family home construction. According to Catalina Research, U.S. floor coverings dollar sales are estimated to have increased by 4.8 percent in 2017 to $25.5 billion. Read More

The tile sector has been on an upward trajectory since 2012, and while the increase in 2016 sales is not as sharp as previous years, porcelain and ceramic tile — as well as stone — continue to see steady growth. U.S. ceramic (manufacturer) dollar sales increased by 6.3 percent in 2016, according to Catalina Research. Stone sales increased by 6.7 percent. Read More

Outside of its inherit beauty, natural stone also sets itself apart from other categories with its individuality. "No two pieces of natural stone are identical," said Barbara Haaksma, vice president of marketing for Emser Tile. "Texture variations, fissure lines and rich tones combine to tell a story of their own for innate one-of-a-kind designs. Over time, natural stone develops a unique patina and becomes a product of its environment."  Read More

Coming into 2018, many tile suppliers cited countertops as a key opportunity for the year ahead. According to Glenn Harry, general manager, stone and sales operation for Mohawk’s Dal-Tile Corporation, the U.S. countertop industry is estimated to be about $5 billion in sales annually, with roughly half coming from stone, quartz and a newer product known as gauged porcelain. Read More

Overall in 2017, ceramic tile sales are estimated to have increased by 6.8 percent in dollars and 5.4 percent in square feet, according to Catalina Research. Read More

Construction is one of the few industries in our economy that has been sheltered from globalism. Often it isn’t feasible to export or import construction jobs, while construction materials — steel, lumber, concrete, gypsum — are typically expensive to transport relative to their cost. On the positive side, this makes it challenging for foreign competitors to break into the U.S. market. However, it also makes it difficult for U.S. companies to do business abroad. Read More

Total housing starts fell 12.3 percent in June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.17 million units, according to newly released data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Commerce Department. Read More

The National Association of Home Builders' (NAHB) Remodeling Market Index (RMI) posted a reading of 58 in the second quarter of 2018, up one point from the previous quarter. Read More

U.S. floor coverings sales strengthened in 2017 due to rising consumer confidence and sharper increases in single-family home construction. According to Catalina Research, U.S. floor coverings dollar sales are estimated to have increased by 4.8 percent in 2017 to $25.5 billion. Read More

These shares of global construction activity will continue to shift in the future, but in balance they are not likely to favor domestic U.S. construction Read More