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.

J.C. Penney Closing Utah Call Center

Plano, TX, February 1--A decline in catalog orders made by telephone has led to the closure of a J.C. Penney call center in Bountiful, Utah. As a result, 375 employees are losing their jobs, the company announced Friday.

Report: May-Federated Talks Hit Snag

New York, February 1—-According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, price appears to be a prime sticking point in Federated Department Stores’ efforts to acquire May Department Stores.

Universal Forest 4Q Earnings Up 38%

Grand Rapids, MI, February 1--Universal Forest Products Inc. reported that its fourth-quarter profit rose 38 percent, helped by higher lumber and chemical prices, and the company expects results to improve in 2005.

Georgia-Pacific 4Q Earnings Off

Atlanta, GA, February 1--Georgia-Pacific reported its fourth-quarter net profit fell by almost half, after it increased funds to cover asbestos lawsuits.

Leggett & Platt 4Q Earnings Up 11%

Carthage, OH, February 1--Leggett & Platt posted an 11 percent increase in fourth-quarter earnings, driven by on asset sales, a lower tax rate, sales growth and full production at its steel mill.

Lanxess Makes Market Debut

Frankfurt, Germany, February 1--Lanxess AG, the spun-off chemicals and polymers business of German drug maker Bayer AG, made its debut on the Frankfurt stock exchange Monday.

Robbins Gets Jump on Competitors

Cincinnati, OH, January 31--Jay Stoehr calls it "the bomb shelter." But National Basketball Association players and insiders might know it better as the birthplace of their playing courts, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Capital Expenditures of OSB Manufacturers to Top $

Houston, TX, January 31-- Researched by Industrialinfo.com (Industrial Information Resources Incorporated; Houston). Wood products producers in the U.S. and Canada are planning to invest over $1.1 billion in oriented strand board (OSB) manufacturing asset