SUMMARY OF MAJOR
FINDINGS
The $21 billion (manufacturers’ dollars)
U.S. floor coverings market continues to gain strength as manufacturer sales benefit from sharp
gains in the builder market and from relatively strong increases in residential replacement sales.
Demand received a boost from lower interest rates, homeowner refinancing, and tax cuts. Market growth
trends are also seeing the start of a rebound in nonresidential construction activity. In addition, U.S.
manufacturers are moving upmarket as personal income rises and new homes become larger and more expensive.
The move upmarket can be seen in the sharp increase in more costly area rug sales and diversification into
higher-value floor coverings such as ceramic tile, laminate flooring, and wood flooring.
FLOORING SECTOR
TRENDS
Catalina Research uncovered these trends in our in-depth
243-page report on the U.S. floor coverings industry. U.S. shipments, exports, imports, and price trends are
evaluated for carpet and area rugs, wood flooring, ceramic tile, vinyl sheet and floor tile, rubber sheet and
floor tile, other resilient flooring, and laminate flooring.
PROFIT MARGINS
AND THE COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT
In addition, Catalina Research investigated the cost
structure and profit margins of U.S. floor coverings plants. Data trends are compiled for material, labor, and
capital inputs. As part of this analysis, Catalina Research profiled 11 leading U.S. manufacturers, compiled
company sales and profit margins, and calculated market share. Company profiles cover product lines, manufacturing
and distribution, capital investments, acquisitions, and new products.
END-USE MARKET
ANALYSIS
Our end-use market analysis segments residential, nonresidential,
and transportation equipment markets. Construction markets are further segmented into new and replacement purchases, and
purchases by manufactured housing manufacturers. End-use market trends are correlated with U.S. housing demand,
nonresidential construction, mortgage interest rates, and other economic indicators to uncover the factors affecting
U.S. floor coverings demand, and provide insights into the direction of domestic demand in 2004 and beyond.
RETAIL DISTRIBUTION
CHANNELS AND DEMOGRAPHICS
Sales are analyzed for retail distribution channels. Retail floor
coverings sales are supplied for specialty floor coverings stores, home centers, other building material dealers, furniture
stores, department stores and mass merchandisers, paint and wallpaper stores, and other retailers. The total number of
retail outlets selling floor coverings and total floor coverings sales by region and state are provided as well. Based on
this data Catalina Research calculated per capita sales. A separate section investigates the demographics of household floor
coverings purchases. Household spending trends are studied by family income, age of household head, persons per household,
and region. Spending demographics are segmented for soft surface and hard surface flooring.
INSTALLATION
CONTRACTOR MARKET
A section analyzing the installation market is also included.
Data trends are provided for the number and revenues of U.S. floor coverings installation contractors, revenues by type
of job and building, revenue per square foot of floor coverings installed, and regional and state data. Installation
costs are evaluated to consider their impact on the different types of floor coverings.
CANADIAN FLOOR
COVERINGS MARKET
The Canadian floor coverings market is analyzed as well. Five types
of floor coverings are evaluated. Data trends include market sales, shipments, exports, and imports.
Report Number:
CR031
Pages: 243
Price: $2,495.00 paper, $2,995.00 e-mail version
To order or receive
further information about this valuable research report, contact our
Sales Department @ (561) 988-0853 or e-mail: sales@CatalinaReports.com.
You can also visit our web site: www.CatalinaReports.com
