Source: DOOR & WINDOW MARKET MAGAZINE When members of the Northeast Window and Door Association (NWDA) met last week in Harrisburg, Pa., for its annual summer meeting, one of the educational speakers was Michael Collins who educated attendees on everything from housing stats to market trends to what we can expect in terms of acquisitions and sales. Collins, an investment banker and a partner in Building Industry Advisors, is an expert in the door and window industry and also serves as a columnist and blogger for DWM magazine.
The National Association of the Remodeling Industry’s (NARI) second-quarter Remodeling Business Pulse (RBP) data of current and future remodeling business conditions continues to soar, as quarter-over-quarter increases are seen nearly all sub-components measuring remodeling activity.
Source: Woodworking Network Global sales of laminate flooring have held steady in spite of the recent spate of world-wide economic challenges, according to the European Producers of Laminate Flooring (EPFL).
Source: THE GLAZINE Construction output appears to have bottomed out following the sharp declines seen in 2012. The volume of construction output during the three months to May was unchanged on the preceding three months, according to the latest figures from ONS. However, this was against a weather disrupted December to February and output during the three months to May was still almost 5% down on the same period a year ago.
Source: The Construction Index Seasonally adjusted production in May fell by 0.3% compared with April in the 17 countries of the Eurozone (EA17) and by 0.2% across all 27 European Union countries (EU27), according to initial estimates released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU. In April 2013, production had risen by 1.0% and 1.1% respectively.
Source: USGNN PPG Industries reported record second-quarter net sales in 2013 of $4.1 billion, up 16 percent versus the prior year, but company glass sales dipped in what chairman and chief executive officer Charles E. Bunch calls a “challenging” glass market.
Source: Forbes by Morgan Brennan At the AARP conference in May, an attendee came over to Barbara Floyd Jones’ booth and shared a unfortunate tale of financial woe. A fake company masquerading as a government-affiliated housing agency had swindled the unsuspecting homeowner out of $10,000 amid promises to modify the mortgage. After coughing up cash for phony “processing fees”, the victim was left five figures poorer with no mortgage relief in sight. It wasn’t the first time Floyd Jones had heard such a tale nor will it be her last.
Source: REUTERS U.S. housing starts and permits for future home construction unexpectedly fell in June, but the decline in activity was likely to be short-lived against the backdrop of bullish sentiment among home builders.
Remodeling trends may come and go, but one trend has evolved into an improved design movement focused on increasing accessibility for everyone in the home. The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) recognizes universal design projects as proven design solutions for not only aging-in-place, but for families with special needs or anyone who wishes to move about his or her home freely, without barriers.
Source: Furniture Today A team of American Home Furnishings Alliance member executives is meeting with lawmakers to detail concerns with the proposed national formaldehyde rule for composite panel.
An AHFA press release said the proposed federal formaldehyde rules released in June will dramatically increase costs and force plant closures and job loss. |