News
July Safety Report Now Available
The July Safety Report Is Now Ready for Members to Download
Fall Meeting Attendee List Published; Hotel Reservation Deadline Extended
The Fall Meeting attendee list is now available online, featuring representatives from more than 60 member companies. Rooms for the September 27-29 meeting at the Hyatt Regency Savannah must be reserved by September 9 to secure the discounted group rate. Current meeting details and hotel reservation information are available online. See Annual Meetings. More Info: Anna
Unilin Names New CEO
Unilin announced the appointment of An Nuyttens as CEO. She will join the company in mid-October, succeeding Paul De Cock, who will become CEO of Mohawk Industries on September 30. Nuyttens brings over 30 years’ experience to the role, most recently serving in executive positions at Solvay. Unilin is a global manufacturer of panels and
August U.S. Consumer Confidence Dips
U.S. consumer confidence measured 89.4 in August, a decrease of 0.8 points from the adjusted July reading, according to The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index. The index gauging current business and labor market conditions climbed 6.8 points in August to 121.2. The short-term outlook index for income, business, and labor markets slid 5.8 points to
U.S. New Home Sales Down in July
U.S. sales of new single-family homes in July were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 607,000, falling 10.5% from June and 6.3% below the comparable month in 2025. The seasonally adjusted estimate of new homes for sale in July was 488,000, representing a 9.6-month supply at the existing sales rate. This is 1.9% higher
July U.S. Construction Spending Weakens
U.S. construction spending in July reached a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2.16 trillion, decreasing 0.5% from June and 3.8% year-over-year. Total public and private residential spending declined 1.3% month-over-month and 7.3% from July 2025 to $871.21 billion. Non-residential spending totaled $1.29 trillion, 0.1% higher than June but down 1.3% from the same month last
December U.S. Housing Starts Decrease
U.S. housing starts in December 2022 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.38 million, dropping 1.4% from November and 21.8% lower than the comparable month in 2021. Single-family starts increased 11.3% from November to 909,000. U.S. building permits in December were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.33 million, shrinking 1.6% from
U.S. Remodeling Spending to Slow in 2023
The fourth quarter 2022 Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) predicts remodeling and repair spending will slow to 2.6% growth by December 2023 compared to 16.3% at the end of last year, according to the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. The LIRA, published quarterly, is a short-term
Q4 2022 U.S. Remodeling Confidence Dips
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Royal Remodeling Index (RMI) reported a U.S. remodeling confidence index of 66 in the fourth quarter of 2022, dropping 11 points from the third quarter and 17 points below the same period in 2021. The current market conditions indicator shrank seven points to 75 and the future indicators index
U.S. Hotel Construction Up in December
U.S. hotel construction at the end of December 2022 grew 0.3% to 159,344 rooms compared to the same month in 2021, with New York, Phoenix and Dallas leading the new supply. Rooms in “final planning” increased 15% to 213,066, but “in planning” projects fell 15.6% over December 2021 to 240,092. See STR
November Canadian Wood Product Sales Increase
Seasonally adjusted Canadian wood product sales in November 2022 were $3.62 billion (CAD), up 1.2% from October and 5% lower than the comparable month in 2021. Sales of furniture and related products totaled $1.37 billion, increasing 2.8% from October and jumping 15.3% over November 2021. Canadian manufacturing sales for all industries were $72.3 billion, mostly
Canadian Housing Starts Decline in December
The monthly standalone seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of Canadian housing starts in December 2022 was 248,625 units, 5.5% lower than November. The SAAR of urban starts decreased 5% from November at 227,708. Multiple urban starts fell 4% to 182,850, and single-family levels dropped 11% from November to 44,858. The trend in housing starts in