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.

AIA: Hurricane Rebuilding Likely to Take Up to Fiv

Washington, D.C., October 12, 2005--The American Institute of Architects (AIA) today issued a report aimed at providing design and construction professionals a forecast of key economic components related to the rebuilding process of the affected regions.

Greenspan: Flexibility Benefits Economy

Washington, D.C., October 12, 2005--Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan said on Wednesday the ability of the U.S. economy to weather shocks showed the benefits of flexibility, even if this performance also encouraged "speculative excess."

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.

Sphinx Intros New Collections, Expands Others

Dalton, GA, October 12, 2005--Sphinx by Oriental Weavers will debut two new handcrafted collections and additions to each of its three licensed product lines at the upcoming International Home Furnishings Market in High Point.

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.

NAR: Home Sales Forecast Looking Stronger

Washington, D.C., October 12, 2005--The forecast for home sales has trended up as the year progressed, fueled lately by added demand resulting from the impact of recent hurricanes, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Wall Coverings Demand to Reach $2.4B in 2009

Cleveland, OH, October 12, 2005--Demand for wall coverings is projected to advance 4.3% annually from a weak 2004 base to $2.4 billion in 2009, according to a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc., a Cleveland-based industrial market research firm.

FOMC Minutes Show Fed Leaning Toward More Hikes

Washington, D.C., October 12, 2005--Federal Reserve policy makers grew more concerned about inflation after Hurricane Katrina and said that interest rates would probably have to move higher to restrain prices, according to minutes of the central bank'

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.