FCEF Announces 2026 BOD; Chambers Named Chairman
Dalton, GA, December 17, 2025-The Floor Covering Education Foundation (FCEF) has announced its 2026 board members. David Chambers of Nebraska Furniture Mart will be the chairman.
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Architecture Billings Declined to 45.3 in November
Washington, DC, December 17, 2025—The AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index (ABI) score for November was 45.3, marking the 13th consecutive month of declining billings at architecture firms, and the 35th month of a score below 50 out of the last 38.
Mortgage Applications Declined 3.8% in Week Ending December 12
Washington, DC, December 17, 2025—Mortgage applications decreased 3.8% from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending December 12, 2025.
Classen Receives Cradle to Cradle Silver Certification for Ceramin
Kaisersesch, Germany, December 17, 2025—The Classen Group has received the Cradle to Cradle Certified Full Scope Silver certification for its PVC-free Ceramin material technology.
October Retail Sales Flat with September, Up 3.5% YOY
Washington, DC, December 16, 2025—Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for October 2025 were $732.6 billion, virtually unchanged from the previous month, and up 3.5% from October 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Shaw Floors Launches Updated Brand Vision and Visual Identity
Dalton, Ga., December 15, 2025-Shaw Floors has rolled out a revised brand vision and updated visual identity, including a new logo, following a year-long consumer research initiative aimed at better understanding residential flooring shoppers.
Unemployment Rose in November
Washington, DC, December 16, 2025-Total nonfarm payroll employment changed little in November (+64,000) and has shown little net change since April, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.
Construction Backlog Indicator Fell to 8.1 Months in Late November
Washington, DC, December 16, 2025—The Associated Builders and Contractors’ Construction Backlog Indicator fell to 8.1 months in November, according to an ABC member survey conducted November 20 to December 8.
Construction Employment Rose by 28,000 Jobs in November
Washington, DC, December 16, 2025-The construction industry added 28,000 jobs on net in November, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Builder Confidence Rose 1 Point to 39 in December
Washington, DC, December 15, 2025—Builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes rose one point to 39 in December, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI).