Import Prices Inched Up in July, Export Prices Rose 0.7%
Washington, DC, August 15, 2024—Prices for U.S. imports ticked up 0.1% in July, after being unchanged the previous month, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.
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.
Industrial Production Declined 0.6% in July
Washington, DC, August 15, 2024—Industrial production fell 0.6% in July after increasing 0.3% in June, according to the Federal Reserve.
Initial Jobless Claims Declined by 7,000 in Week Ending August 10
Washington, DC, August 15, 2024—In the week ending August 10, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 227,000, a decrease of 7,000 from the previous week's revised level, according to the Department of Labor.
Virginia Tile Expands Partnership with American Olean & Marazzi
Livonia, MI, August 15, 2024-Virginia Tile has announced the expansion of its distribution partnership with American Olean, now extending coverage of their full product lines across Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa.
Richard Eppler Honored for 50 Years of Service in Ceramics
Clemson, SC, August 15, 2024—Tile Council of North America (TCNA) announces Richard Eppler has been honored by ASTM International for 50 years of service to the ceramics industry.
Inflation Fell Below 3% in July For the First Time Since 2021
Washington, DC, August 14, 2024-The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.2 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis, after declining 0.1% in June, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.
Mortgage Applications Rose 16.8% in Week Ending August 9
Washington, DC, August 14, 2024-Mortgage applications increased 16.8% from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending August 9, 2024.
Construction Backlog Indicator Steady at 8.4 in July
Washington, DC, August 14, 2024-Associated Builders and Contractors reported that its Construction Backlog Indicator held steady at 8.4 months in July, according to an ABC member survey conducted July 22 to August 6. The reading is down 0.9 months from July 2023.
Key Findings from First Flooring Sustainability Summit
Washington, DC, August 14, 2024-The Flooring Sustainability Summit brought together industry leaders, innovators, and experts to address critical challenges and opportunities in advancing sustainable building practices within the flooring sector.
90% of Metro Areas Had Home Price Gains in Q2
Washington, DC, August 14, 2024-Almost 90% of metro markets (199 out of 223, or 89%) recorded home price gains in Q2 2024, as the 30-year fixed mortgage rate ranged from 6.82% to 7.22%, according to the National Association of Realtors' latest quarterly report.