Mannington Announces 2020 "Art is Cool" Competition Winners
Salem, NJ, June 18, 2020—For the first time since it began 18 years ago, Mannington Mills' “Art is Cool” competition was held virtually in response to COVID-19 restrictions.
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.
AHF Products Closing Shanghai Plant, Consolidating to Cambodia
Mountville, PA, June 17, 2020-AHF Products has announced that it will service all international customers out of its Sihanoukville, Cambodia plant and will be ceasing manufacturing in Shanghai, China.
May Housing Starts Rose 4.3% Over April But Down 23.2% YOY
Washington, DC, June 17, 2020— Privately-owned housing starts in May were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 974,000, 4.3% above the revised April estimate of 934,000 but 23.2% below the May 2019 rate of 1,268,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Americans Investing in Homes, Post COVID-19
New York, NY, June 17, 2020—Decreased spending in the lockdown means that some Americans now have extra cash, and they are spending it on home furnishings, among other things, reports the Wall Street Journal in an article titled, “Boats, Pools and Home Furnishings: How the Lockdown Transformed Our Spending Habits.”
Jaeckle Expanding Distribution of Tarkett Products
Madison, WI, June 17, 2020—Effective immediately, Jaeckle Distributors and Premier Tile Corporation will now be distributing the Tarkett Commercial product line in Missouri, Kansas, and Southern Illinois.
Mortgage Applications Rose 8.0% in Second Week of June
Washington, DC, June 17, 2020-Mortgage applications increased 8.0% from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending June 12, 2020.
Covid-19 Not Likely to Be Transmitted Via Surfaces, Such as Flooring
New York, NY, June 17, 2020—There is a growing consensus that Covid-19 is not transmitted via surfaces, such as flooring, reports the Wall Street Journal in an article titled, “How Exactly Do You Catch Covid-19? There Is a Growing Consensus.”
National Council of Textile Organizations Announces Officers for 2020
Washington, DC, June 17, 2020-The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), representing the full spectrum of U.S. textiles from fiber through finished sewn products, held its officer elections for fiscal year 2020.
Builder Confidence Rose 21 Points to 58 in June
Washington, DC, June 16, 2020—In a sign that housing stands poised to lead a post-pandemic economic recovery, builder confidence in the market for newly-built single-family homes jumped 21 points to 58 in June, according to the latest National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI).
Retail Sales Up 17.7% in May, but Still Down YOY
Washington, DC, June 16, 2020-Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for May 2020 were $485.5 billion, an increase of 17.7% but 6.1% below May 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.