Articles

Vinyl flooring imports saw a sharp decline in units in March, down 48.1% year over year (YOY), compared to only a 4.8% YOY decline in the prior month, according to Truist Securities. Read More

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) redesigned its Multifamily Market Survey (MMS) in Q1 2023 to make it easier to interpret and more similar to the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index for single-family housing. The MMS produces two separate indices. The Multifamily Production Index (MPI) had a reading of 50 for Q1, while the Multifamily Occupancy Index (MOI) reading was 82. Read More

Builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes in May rose five points to 50, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). This marks the fifth straight month that builder confidence has increased and is the first time that sentiment levels have reached the midpoint mark of 50 since July 2022. Read More

The Home Depot reported sales of $37.3 billion for Q1 2023, a decrease of 4.2% from Q1 2022’s $38.9 billion. Read More

The backsplash is the perfect finishing touch to any kitchen design. Backsplashes add color, texture, interest, and pattern to the kitchen, and are considered the most decorative part of the design. Read More

Outpacing all other flooring categories, ceramic tile grew 14.2% in dollars in 2022 though overall units dipped slightly. Read More

After weeks of counting down, we’re thrilled that Coverings — the most important event of the year for the tile and stone industry — is finally here! Next week, industry professionals ranging from manufacturers and distributors to architects and designers will gather in Orlando. As in previous years, attendees will watch presentations to learn about new industry standards and innovations. But our favorite part of the event is seeing all the new products on display. These past eight weeks, we’ve covered each of the trends we expect to see. With emphasis on timeless luxury, health and wellness, sustainability, and outdoor living, these trends highlight the impact tile can make not only on interior decor, but on mental, physical, and environmental health. Read More

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that hiring in the U.S. unexpectedly picked up last month, with employers adding 253,000 (seasonally adjusted) jobs, up from a revised 165,000 in March, reports the Dodge Data & Analytics. The nation’s unemployment rate edged down to 3.4% in April, from 3.5% a month earlier and 3.6% in February, representing the lowest jobless rate since January. Read More

In the first three months of 2023, total U.S. imports of ceramic tile were 44.8 million square meters, according to Grosser Consulting, a 4.6% decline compared to the same period in 2022. Read More

Executives from Skanska, DPR, Suffolk and others see unique characteristics in an economic slowdown this year. Read More