Chattanooga, TN, March 30--Dixie Group, in an investor presentation that was part of a Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, said that its carpet sales in the first quarter of 2005 were up 17% from the year-ago quarter.
The company said that its residential carpet sales were up 18%, and sales in its commercial unit were up 16% in the first 12 weeks of 2005.
The company said in the presentation that although it is looking for strong growth and a solid year, profitability comparisions in the first quarter will be more difficult than sales comparision for several reasons, including raw-material cost increases that are in the process of being passed along.
In its year-end earnings announcement last month, the company said it expects sales for 2005 to increase about 15% over 2004 sales of $292 million.
