Breaking Flooring News

Gen Z Homeownership Rate Inched Up in 2025

Seattle, WA, January 28, 2026—Gen Z’s homeownership rate ticked up in 2025: More than one-quarter (27.1%) of Gen Zers nationwide owned their home, up from 26.1% a year earlier, reports Redfin.

I4F Expands Partnership with Lioncore for Lightweight SPC Technology

Las Vegas, NV, January 28, 2026—I4F, a group of companies providing patents and technologies to the global flooring industry, has partnered with Lioncore Industries Vietnam Co., Ltd. for exclusive licensing rights on Lioncore’s new patented Lightweight Stone Polymer Composite (L-SPC) technology.

Mortgage Applications Declined 8.5% in Week Ending January 23

Washington, DC, January 28, 2026—Mortgage applications decreased 8.5% from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending January 23, 2026.

Population Growth in U.S. Slowed by 0.5% Between July '24 and '25

Washington, DC, January 28, 2026—Population growth in the United States has slowed significantly with an increase of only 1.8 million, or 0.5%, between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025, according to the new Vintage 2025 population estimates released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Home Prices Made 1.4% Annual Gain in November, Says Case-Shiller

New York, NY, January 27, 2026—The S&P Cotality Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index, covering all nine U.S. census divisions, reported a 1.4% annual gain for November.

Cancellation Rates on Home-Purchase Agreements Rose in Dec.

Seattle, WA, January 27, 2026-Roughly 40,000 U.S. home-purchase agreements were canceled in December, equal to 16.3% of homes that went under contract that month, according to a new report from Redfin. That’s up from 14.9% a year earlier and marks the highest December rate in records dating back to 2017.

Top Ten Buyer-Friendly Markets for 2026

Seattle, WA, January 27, 2026—Zillow has announced that its most buyer-friendly markets of 2026 are Indianapolis, Atlanta, Charlotte, Jacksonville, Oklahoma City, Memphis, Detroit, Miami, Tampa and Pittsburgh.

Surfaces 2026 Begin Today in Las Vegas

Las Vegas, NV, January 26, 2026--The International Surface Event (TISE) begins today at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, running through January 29.

Annie Cowart Named SVP of Shaw Flooring Network

Dalton, GA, January 23, 2026-Shaw has announced that Annie Cowart has been named senior vice president of the Shaw Flooring Network (SFN), reinforcing the company’s commitment to strengthening the network and supporting long- term growth for its members.

Durable Goods Orders Rose 5.3% in November

Washington, DC, January 26, 2026-- New orders for manufactured durable goods in November, up three of the last four months, increased $16.4 billion or 5.3% to $323.8 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced.