Breaking Flooring News

Initial Jobless Claims Rose by 37K to 412,000 in Second Week of June

Washington, DC, June 17, 2021—In the week ending June 12, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 412,000, an increase of 37,000 from the previous week's revised level, according to the Department of Labor.

Shelley Ackerman New Manager of Commercial for Taylor Adhesives

Dalton, GA, June 17, 2021-Taylor Adhesives has named Shelley Ackerman manager of commercial and OEM accounts. She will be responsible for expanding the company’s presence with flooring manufacturers and commercial buying groups, according to the company.

NKBA’s Luxury Kitchen Summit Begins Next Week

Hackettstown, NJ, June 17, 2021—The National Kitchen & Bath Association's (NKBA) first-ever Luxury Kitchen Summit is taking place on June 23 to 24.

May Housing Starts Up 50.3% YOY

Washington, DC, June 16, 2021—Privately-owned housing starts in May were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,572,000. This is 3.6% above the revised April estimate of 1,517,000 and is 50.3% above the May 2020 rate of 1,046,000.

America in Dire Need of Affordable Housing, Says NAR

Washington, DC, June 16, 2021—Decades of underinvestment and underbuilding have created a shortage of housing in America that is more dire than previously expected and will require a concerted, long-term nationwide commitment to overcome, according to a new report released today by the National Association of Realtors and authored by the Rosen Consulting Group.

JCHS Releases 2021 State of the Nation's Housing Report

Cambridge, MA, June 16, 2021—As the U.S. economy continues to recover from the effects of the pandemic, households that weathered the crisis without financial distress are snapping up the limited supply of homes for sale, pushing up prices and further excluding less affluent buyers from homeownership.

Mortgage Applications Increased 4.2% in Second Week of June

Washington, DC, June 16, 2021—Mortgage applications increased 4.2% from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending June 11, 2021.

Coverings Offers Preview of Show Exhibitors

Arlington, VA, June 16, 2021––Coverings has released a select preview of new tile and stone products, and a sneak peek of installation materials and tools, that will be unveiled at Coverings 2021, which will take place July 7-9 in Orlando, Florida in the North Hall of the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC).

Import Prices Rose 1.1% in May

Washington, DC, June 16, 2021—Prices for U.S. imports increased 1.1% in May, after a 0.8% advance the previous month, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.

FCEF Meets with Key Stakeholders to Address Installer Crisis

Dalton, GA, June 16, 2021-During its first in-person board meeting with new executive director Jim Aaron at the helm, the Floor Covering Education Foundation (FCEF) brought together representatives from all aspects of the flooring industry-trade organizations, suppliers, training professionals and retailers-to address the installer crisis.