The home remodeling market should see strong growth in 2014, according to the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) released today by the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. The double-digit gains in annual home improvement spending projected for the first half of the year should moderate some to just under 10 percent by the third quarter.
Although the financial crisis does not appear to be completely over yet, the international laminate flooring market is recovering. Growth has been seen particularly in Eastern Europe, as well as in exports to Asia and North America. The upward trend for EPLF producers that began to emerge in the previous year has stabilised. Even though slight sales declines continued to be observed in Western Europe, 2013 remained a good year for the EPLF (Association of European Producers of Laminate Flooring) thanks to gains in the other regional markets.
Source: CNN Six years later, the U.S. housing crash has grown more distant as the market continues to recover from record foreclosures and spiraling home prices. Here are five regions that experienced the most pronounced recoveries in 2013.
Markets in 56 out of the approximately 350 metro areas nationwide returned to or exceeded their last normal levels of economic and housing activity, according to the National Association of Home Builders/First American Leading Markets Index (LMI), released today. This represents a net gain of two from the previous month. The index’s nationwide score of .86 indicates that, based on current permits, prices and employment data, the nationwide average is running at 86 percent of normal economic and housing activity.
Source: AAMA Most states and local jurisdictions are currently using the 2009 editions of the family of International Codes published by the International Code Council. As of fall 2013, the 2009 International Residential Code (IRC) was being enforced either locally or statewide in 22 states and the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) was being enforced either locally or statewide in 32 states.
AAMA and WDMA Release Updated Review and Forecast that Predicts Fenestration Industry Trends1/6/2014
The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) and the Window & Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA) have jointly released the December update to the AAMA/WDMA 2012/2013 U.S. Industry Statistical Review and Forecast. These reports deliver timely information on window, door and skylight market trends and product relationships. Historic data for 2006 through 2012 and forecast data for 2013 through 2015 are also included in the report. Forecasts are based on projections of construction activity as of December 2013.
Source: Woodworking Network By Rich Christianson Canadian homes are getting smaller and more are being lived in by only one person, according to the 2013 Canadian Housing Observer, an annual state-of-housing review just released by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
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