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Bolstered by the improving construction and housing markets, the U.S. economy and ceramic tile industry continued to expand in 2013.

In the residential market new home starts increased for the fourth straight year and were at their highest annual level since 2007. The 925,000 units started in 2013 represented an 18.5% increase from the previous year.¹

U.S. Tile Consumption Overview U.S. ceramic tile consumption through 2Q 2014 was 1.21 billion sq. ft. (-1.1% vs. 2Q 2013 YTD). If the trend continues for the remainder of the year, this would be the first year-over-year decline in consumption since 2009. The following...

Economic Overview

Bolstered by the improving housing market, the U.S. economy and ceramic tile industry continued to expand in 3Q 2013.     

U.S. unemployment continued to steadily decline through 3Q.  As of Sept. the rate was at7.2%, down from 7.8% in Sept. 2012 (source: Bureau of Labor Statistics).

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, new home starts in Sept. were at a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of873,000 units, up 2.2% from Sept. 2012.  

Economic Overview

At the halfway point in 2013, the U.S. economy continued to show marked improvement vs. 2012.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, new home starts in June rose to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 846,000 units, up 11.8% from June 2012.

After enduring another very difficult year in 2011, there were numerous encouraging signs the U.S. economy and U.S. ceramic tile industry turned a corner last year and are on the road to recovery.