Articles

Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 4.0 percent in the fourth quarter of 2020, reflecting both the continued economic recovery from the sharp declines earlier in the year and the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic Read More

"Despite robust housing demand and low mortgage rates, buyers are facing a dearth of new homes on the market, which is exacerbating affordability problems," said NAHB chairman Chuck Fowke, a custom home builder from Tampa, Fla. "Builders are grappling with supply-side constraints related to lumber and other material costs, a lack of affordable lots and labor shortages that delay delivery times and put upward pressure on home prices. They are also concerned about a changing regulatory environment." Read More

"The remodeling market was consistently strong throughout 2020, as home owners had more time on their hands to improve their homes and add space and efficiency," said NAHB Remodelers chair Tom Ashley, Jr., CAPS, CGP, CGR, a remodeler from Denham Springs, La. "However, activity slowed a bit at the end of the year as a result of the rising Covid-19 cases and an increase in economic insecurity." Read More

Slowing demand at architecture firms last year is expected to contribute to a projected 5.7 percent decline in construction spending for 2021, according to a new consensus forecast from The American Institute of Architects (AIA). Read More

While housing starts ended the year on a strong note, rising lumber prices and increasing regulatory cost concerns could affect future production. Led by a solid, double-digit gain in single-family starts, overall housing starts increased 5.8 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.67 million units, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau. Read More

The United States Flooring Market is expected to grow from USD 41,365.42 Million/EUR 36,269.98 Million in 2020 to USD 51,606.22 Million/EUR 45,249.31 by the end of 2025 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.52%. Read More

However, while the housing market is rocketing, the commercial real estate market is in the midst of a steep downturn. That’s not surprising since many workers are working remotely and not going to their offices, and consumers are buying things online and not in stores, not eating at restaurants and not staying in hotels because they are not traveling. As a result, commercial vacancy rates are up, rents are down and the construction of new buildings is well off from levels of the past few years.   Read More

In 2020, the flooring world experienced a global pandemic, the reinstatement of tariffs on Chinese-made vinyl flooring and supply chain issues. Despite all of this, sales in the resilient category could have increased by more than 7.6 percent during the first nine months of 2020, according to Catalina Research. With its continuously improving visuals, ease of install and hygienic properties, resilient flooring is poised to continue this trajectory in 2021.  Read More

Catalina Research has released its executive summary for 2020 and outlook for 2021. According to the report, the value of U.S. floor coverings manufacturer sales (shipments minus exports plus imports) could have declined 5.7 percent to $25.9 billion in 2020. Square foot sales, however, could have decreased by only 0.9 percent to 23.1 billion. Square foot sales held up better since average selling prices dropped as demand weakened, the report said.  Read More

"Though the market remains strong, the pace of sales pulled back in November as inventory remains low and affordability concerns persist as builders grapple with a shortage of lots, labor and building materials," said Chuck Fowke, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a custom home builder from Tampa, Florida. Read More