Research

Channel analysis
Dollar sales and unit sales of the caulk and sealant category both showed year-over-year gains, according to consumer research from the Port Washington, N.Y.-based NPD Group. But unit volume is down compared with two years ago. The warehouse home centers dominated — nearly three of every five tubes of caulk — but have trended down in the past 12 months.

Results from the third-quarter survey from the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) indicated a 42% rise in showroom traffic and a 36% increase in kitchen remodel sales volumes from one year ago, as well as a significant increase -- 85% -- in bathroom sales over the third quarter of 2010.  Overall, kitchen and bath remodeling revenues reported by NKBA dealer members rose 69% in year-over-year figures.

The S&P/Case Shiller Index, a bellwether for the new housing market, has reported that home prices, on average, increased 1.3% in April compared with March for both the 10-city and 20-city composites. This announcement follows seven consecutive months of falling home prices on the indices.

But on an annual basis, home prices fell. For the 10-city composite, the decrease was 2.2% when compared with April 2011. The 20-city composite dropped 1.9%.

Credit ratings service Standard & Poor's (S&P) delivered a guarded but upbeat assessment of U.S. home builders, reporting that “operating conditions … have improved over the past six months, and the sector's overall credit quality has steadied as a result.” The new report cites a “cautiously stable” outlook for the sector overall, but warns that that trend could backpedal later this year if the baseline residential construction forecast doesn't materialize.