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.

Retail Sales Drop

Washington, DC, Mar. 13--War worries and snow storms kept shoppers away from the stores, driving down sales at the nations' retailers by 1.6% in February. The worst showing in 15 months was another ominous sign for the sputtering economy.

Housewares Show Gets Makeover

Rosemont, IL, Mar. 13--When the International Housewares Show moves to March in 2004, the spring timeframe won't be the only thing new about the housewares industry's premier market event.

Berkshire Hathaway Earnings Shoot Up

Omaha, NE, Mar. 10--Insurance gains fueled Berkshire Hathaway's $4.2 billion in net income for 2002, one year after it earned only $795 million as it paid out claims in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, chairman Warren Buffett said in his annual report

Indoor Mold A Problem in U.S. Homes

Denver, CO, Mar. 10--A new study by the University of Arizona has found that mold is pervasive in homes nationwide, thriving in household sites that are not routinely cleaned and disinfected.

Pergo and HW Receive Approval

Trelleborg, Sweden, Mar. 7--Pergo AB and the main shareholder of Witex AG, HW Industries GmbH & Co. KG, signed a binding agreement concerning a merger between Pergo and Witex late last year.

Pergo Submits Product to Standards Testing

Raleigh, NC, Mar. 10--Pergo recently submitted its products for industry standards testing. Every product tested passed and, in December, the company was granted official standards certification by the North American Laminate Flooring Association (NALFA).

Biggest Surfaces Ever

Dallas, TX, Mar. 4—Surfaces 2003 wasn’t hindered a bit by a sluggish economy, setting records in attendance, number of exhibiting companies and net square feet of exhibit space.

Berkshire Out, Mohawk May Bid On Lees

Greensboro, NC, Feb. 28--Berkshire Hathaway has dropped its offer to buy Burlington Industries after the bankruptcy court rejected some of the terms of the deal.

Consumer Spending Drops Slightly

Washington, DC, Mar. 3—Consumers, worried about a possible war with Iraq and their own financial prospects, cut spending 0.1% in January--the first decline in four months.