Breaking Flooring News

Construction Industry Added 33,000 Jobs in January

Washington, DC, February 11, 2026—The construction industry added 33,000 jobs on net in January, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On a year-over-year basis, industry employment has grown by 44,000 jobs, an increase of 0.5%.

Mortgage Applications Declined 0.3% in Week Ending February 6

Washington, DC, February 11, 2026—Mortgage applications decreased 0.3% from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending February 6, 2026.

Parador Achieves Carbon-Neutral Production

Coesfeld, Germany, February 11, 2026-Since the end of 2025, Parador has been producing at its sites in a CO2-“neutral” manner and has aligned its manufacturing processes clearly toward an approach compatible with the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement.

PC Floors Opens Location in Hartford, Connecticut

Hartford, CT, February 11, 2026—PC Floors will open its tenth location next week in Hartford, marking the wholesale flooring supplier’s third Connecticut store.

Sika Relaunches STEP Educational Program

Lyndhurst, NJ, February 11, 2026—Sika is relaunching the Sika Technical Education Program (STEP), a flooring installation solution training curriculum that is returning due to popular demand.

Domotex Asia/Chinafloor Slated for May

Shanghai, February 11, 2026-Domotex Asia/Chinafloor will return to Shanghai from May 27 to 29, celebrating its 28th edition.

Employment Up by 130,000 in Jan., Unemployment Flat at 4.3%

Washington, DC, February 11, 2026-Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 130,000 in January, and the unemployment rate changed little at 4.3%, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.

Retail Sales Flat in December 2025

Washington, DC, February 10, 2026--Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for December 2025 were $735.0 billion, virtually unchanged from the previous month, and up 2.4% from December 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

NFIB Small Business Optimism Inched Down to 99.3 in January

Washington, DC, February 10, 2026—The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index fell 0.2 points in January to 99.3 and remained above its 52-year average of 98.

Trump Proposal to Limit Investor Home-Buying Meets Resistance

Washington, DC, February 10, 2026—"The White House is at loggerheads with Congress over one of President Trump’s signature housing proposals, a ban on Wall Street investors buying single-family homes,” reports the Wall Street Journal.

Construction Backlog Indicator Declined to 8 Months in January

Washington, DC, February 10, 2026-Associated Builders and Contractors reported that its Construction Backlog Indicator fell to 8.0 months in January, according to an ABC member survey conducted January 20 to February 3. The reading is down 0.2 months from December and 0.4 months from January 2025.

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