Long-Term Mortgage Rates in Decline Since Mid-2025
Washington, DC, January 8, 2025—Long-term mortgage rates have been declining since mid-2025 and ended the year at their lowest level since September 2024, says the NAHB.
Today's Flooring News
Keep up to date with the most recent news in the flooring industry. Today's News...As it happens! We update this news several times a day so you can stay connected.
Investment Groups Should Be Banned from Buying Homes, Says Trump
Englewood Cliffs, NJ, January 8, 2026—"President Donald Trump said the U.S. should bar large institutional investors from buying single-family homes, arguing that corporate ownership has helped push housing further out of reach for everyday Americans,” reports CNBC.
Consolidated Flooring Included on 2025 COMPASS Select List
New York, NY, January 8, 2026—Consolidated Flooring has been recognized on the 2025 COMPASS Select List by Bespoke Metrics, placing it in the top 15% of subcontractors nationwide.
Mannington Comml. Partners with William M. Bird for Burke Distribution
Salem, NJ, January 8, 2026-Mannington Commercial is pleased to announce a new strategic partnership with William M. Bird, bringing together two multi-generation, family-owned companies with more than 100 years of combined experience in the flooring industry.
NWFA's John Forbes Has Retired
St. Charles, MO, January 8, 2026—The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) announced that John Forbes, director of manufacturer services, retired from the organization as of December 31, 2025. NWFA;
Initial Jobless Claims Rose by 8,000 in Week Ending January 3
Washington, DC, January 8, 2026—In the week ending January 3, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 208,000, an increase of 8,000 from the previous week's revised level, according to the Department of Labor.
Construction Industry Job Openings Rose by 90,000 in November
Washington, DC, January 8, 2026—The construction industry had 292,000 job openings on the last day of November, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey.
Mortgage Applications Declined 9.7% in Week Ending January 2
Washington, DC, January 7, 2026-Mortgage applications decreased 9.7% from two weeks earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending January 2, 2026.
Central Alabama Flooring Closes Big Bob's Store to Focus on Carpet One Biz
Birmingham, Al, January 7, 2025-Central Alabama Flooring (CAF), a provider of residential, builder, and commercial flooring solutions throughout Alabama, has closed its Birmingham, Alabama Big Bob's Outlet Store and concluded its membership with the Floors & More/Big Bob’s Flooring Outlet group, effective January 1, 2026.
Tarkett Home Forms Partnership with William M. Bird
Solon, OH, January 7, 2026-Tarkett Home has announced a new distribution partnership with William M Bird, bringing Tarkett Home’s innovative hard surface products to a broader customer base across the southeastern United States.