As COVID-19 continues to dampen the U.S. economy, the housing market waved a flag of relief in July, indicating that homebuyers are ready to move again under the stimulus of record-low interest rates. According to Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. (Freddie Mac), the average rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages fell to 2.98% last week. Meanwhile, […]

Toronto-based Gem Windows and Doors says it has been able to keep 95% of its staff employed through the COVID-19 global pandemic and subsequent economic upheaval, and continued to serve customers electronically and by phone, while maintaining prescribed safety protocols and procedures. As part of the company’s Canada Day celebration, Gem wants to continue to […]

The U.S. fenestration market collectively remains optimistic as the New Year approaches, according to [DWM]’s sneak peek into the 2020 Door and Window Industry Outlook. The report, produced by [DWM]’s parent company, Key Media & Research (KMR), takes a detailed look into the state of the industry and the year ahead. According to the Industry […]

Are we heading into a recession? That was the question on many people’s minds at the 81st Annual Dodge Construction Outlook Conference in Chicago, as economic growth begins to slow. The answer is that a recession is not likely within the next 12 months, according to two economists, but a slowdown is headed for the […]

With the 2016 presidential election a year away, the construction and manufacturing industries are keeping a collective eye on how the candidates’ policies will affect business. Wednesday evening, thousands of industry members had an opportunity to get into the specifics with one candidate. A coalition of building sector associations participated in the first edition of […]

In the years following the bust, economic forecasters often used the term, the “long road back to normal” or the “new normal.” In today’s National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) Spring Construction Forecast Robert Denk, NAHB assistant vice president for forecasting and analysis, discussed “getting back to normal” and painted a picture of this road past, […]

There have been a number of blogs recently on the generally positive tone at this year’s GlassBuild. For me, my impressions of the show always start several weeks in advance of the opening of the show doors on the first day. I typically reach out to owners and presidents of door and window companies to […]

Dr. Esmael Adibi, economist with Chapman University, was so popular when he addressed attendees of the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) a few years ago that he was invited back this week to the association’s annual meeting held in Tucson, Ariz. He even showed attendees how that forecast from a few years ago turned out. […]