Construction Starts Down 20.5% Due to Nonbuilding & Comml. Declines
Boston, MA, January 2, 2026-Total construction starts were down 20.5% in November to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.22 trillion, according to Dodge Construction Network.
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.
Initial Jobless Claims Declined by 16,000 in Week Ending Dec. 27
Washington, DC, January 2, 2026—In the week ending December 27, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 199,000, a decrease of 16,000 from the previous week's revised level, according to the Department of Labor.
Year in Review: 2025 Brought Another Year of Mediocre Activity Due to Uncertainty
2025 wasn’t a collapse for the flooring industry-but it wasn’t the rebound many hoped for either. This year-in-review looks at how tariffs, interest rates and ongoing uncertainty influenced buying decisions, construction activity and consolidation, with a clear-eyed look at what actually moved the market and what could shape 2026.
Paul Meberg of Consolidated Flooring Has Died
New York, NY, December 30, 2025-Paul Meberg, owner of Consolidated Flooring from 1991-2021, died on December 27. He was 72.
GDP Rose by 4.3% in Q3
Washington, DC, December 23, 2025—Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 4.3% in Q3 2025 (July, August, and September), according to the initial estimate released by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Median U.S. Home Sizes Continue to Shrink
Charlotte, NC, December 23, 2025—The median size of U.S. homes continues to fall, reports Truist.
Karndean CEO Bill Anderson Elected to FCEF Board
Export, PA, December 23, 2025- Karndean Designflooring CEO Bill Anderson has been elected to the Floor Covering Education Foundation (FCEF) board of directors, which plays a crucial role in guiding the non-profit industry foundation’s strategic direction.
Alan Anthony Franks of Atlanta Flooring Design Centers has died
Gainesville, GA, December 26, 2025-Alan Anthony Franks of Atlanta Flooring Design Centers died December 7. He was 69.
Industrial Production Rose 0.2% in November 2025
Washington, DC, December 23, 2025-Industrial production (IP) rose 0.2% in November after ticking down 0.1% in October, according to the Federal Reserve.
Despite Lower Interest Rates, Many Homeowners Still Won't Sell
New York, NY, December 22, 2025—"Mortgage rates have fallen to their lowest level in a year, but millions of homeowners are still locked into ultralow mortgage rates they don’t want to give up,” reports the Wall Street Journal.