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.

Business Inventories Fall 0.5%

Washington, DC, October 14, 2005--Business inventories fell an unexpected 0.5% in July, led by a drop in motor vehicles and parts, according to a report from the Commerce Department.

Jobless Claims Fall 2,000

Washington, D.C., October 13, 2005--Initial jobless claims remained at an elevated level last week as a result of two devastating storms in the Gulf Coast.

ServiceMagic Receives Web Marketing Association Aw

Golden, CO, October 13, 2005--ServiceMagic, Inc., the leading online marketing system for residential contractors and home service professionals, has been awarded the 2005 Outstanding Website WebAward by the Web Marketing Association (WMA).

Energy Drives Import Prices Up in September

Washington, D.C., October 13, 2005—Import prices rose 2.3% in September, according to the Department of Labor. Prices rose to their highest level in 15 years, as costs of natural gas and oil continued to rise.

Retail Profits Off in 1Q

Washington, DC, October 12, 2005--After-tax profits of retail corporations with assets of $50 million and over totaled $13.0 billion in the first quarter 2005, down $3.7 billion from the preceding quarter.

Mortgage Refinance Application Down

Washington, D.C., October 12, 2005--The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today released its Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending October 7.

Report Compares European & North American Flooring

Wilmslow, U.K., October 12, 2005—Textiles Intelligence issued a research report today indicating striking differences in the structure of companies in the floorcovering sector in Western Europe compared with that of North America.