Kmart December Same Store Sales Off 2.6%
Troy, MI, January 3--Kmart Holding said Monday that it expects to generate operating income of about $250 million for November and December of 2004, an increase of 10 percent year-over-year.
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.
Help-Wanted Advertising Index Dips
New York, NY, December 30--The Conference Board’s Help-Wanted Advertising Index – a key barometer of America's job market – dipped one point in November. The Index now stands at 36. It was 38 one year ago.
Forecasters See Slower Growth in 2005
Washington, DC, December 30--Despite soaring oil prices and a slumping dollar, the United States enjoyed a banner year in terms of economic growth in 2004, but the new year is likely to see a significant slowdown, private economists say.
Online Shopping Traffic up 26%
San Francisco, CA, December 30--Visits to Web shopping and classifieds sites jumped 25.6 percent from the year-ago holiday season and peaked on Thanksgiving Day, Internet research company Hitwise said.
Chicago Purchasing Managers Index Declines in Dec
Chicago, IL, December 30--A gauge of business in the Chicago area, a center of U.S. manufacturing, fell for a second month as employment gains slowed, a private survey found.
Persian Carpets on Display During Iran Trade & Tou
United Arab Emirates, December 29--Among the Iranians, the carpet business has long been a closely guarded family tradition, with fathers passing over the knowledge and skills to their sons.
Flooring America Returns to Surfaces
St. Louis, MO, December 29--Flooring America will participate in Surfaces, the flooring industry’s premier annual trade show, on January 26-28, 2005 in Las Vegas, NV.
Online Holiday Sales Up of 28%
New York, NY, December 29--Online sales surpassed the high range of estimates this year, thanks to a rush of last-minute shoppers who snapped up iPods, computers and the occasional power drill.
Demand for Office Furniture Recovering
New York, December 29--High steel costs are still hurting the bottom line at U.S. office furniture companies, even as sales hit their highest levels in years.
U.S. Xpress to Exercise Over-Allotment Option
Chattanooga, TN, December 29--U.S. Xpress Enterprises said its underwriters of its recent public offering have exercised their over-allotment option to purchase an additional 600,000 shares of the company's Class A common stock.