Housing Starts Off
Washington, DC, Mar. 17--Home building in the U.S. slowed in February for a second month in a row but remained at strong levels.
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.
China to End Foreign Retail Curbs by December
Shanghai, China, Mar. 17--China will stick by pledges to open a booming retail sector to foreign players such as Wal-Mart and Carrefour, abolishing joint-venture requirements before December 11, state media said Wednesday.
Consumer Prices Rise
Washington, DC, Mar. 17--Consumer prices rose by a modest 0.3 percent in February as high energy costs continued to hit the pocketbooks of drivers filling up at the pump and people heating their homes.
Home Builder Lennar's Net Earnings Rise
Miami, FL, Mar. 16--Lennar Corporation, one of the nation's largest homebuilders, today reported earnings for its first quarter ended February 29.
Solutia's 2003 Net Sales Rise
St. Louis, MO, Mar. 17--Bankrupt chemical maker Solutia Inc. says it increased net sales last year by six percent, to $2.43 billion.
Hiring Plans Increase, Survey Says
Milwaukee, WI, Mar. 16--In the highest showing in three years, 28% of U.S. employers plan to add workers in the second quarter, according to a closely followed employment survey.
Unilin Plant Site to be Announced Today
Thomasville, NC, Mar. 16--A multimillion dollar economic incentives package was successful in wooing a Belgian flooring manufacturer to expand in Davidson County--bringing with it 330 new jobs, according to the News-Record.
Builders Expect New Home Market to Remain Steady
Washington, DC, Mar. 15--Demand for newly built single-family homes is holding steady at a healthy level in March, according to builders surveyed for the National Association of Home Builders’ latest Housing Market Index.
Liz Claiborne Furniture Line to Debut
New York, NY, Mar. 14--Sofas, love seats and armoires are joining sweaters, slacks and blouses under the Liz Claiborne brand, as the clothing designer guns for big-name rivals including Martha Stewart with a planned September launch of a full furniture li
Major Builder Goes Green on Construction Teams
Appleton, WI, Mar. 15--After building a regional office in Stevens Point to meet the United State's Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification guidelines, The Boldt Co. decided to go one step furthe