Strong recovery in the United States

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 923,000 units started in 2013 represented an 18.3% increase from the previous year. Single family starts, which comprised two-thirds of total starts, were up 15.4% to 618,000 units, and multi-family unit construction saw a 24.6% gain to 306,000 units.

New home sales, with which ceramic tile sales are closely linked, were at a five-year high of 428,000 units, up 16.4% vs. 2012. In spite of this increase, new home sales were only a third of what they were at their peak level in 2005 (1.28 million units).

U.S. construction spending (includes both private and public residential and non-residential construction) in 2013 was $898.4 billion, a 4.8% increase from 2012.

U.S Tile Consumption Overview

Through 3Q 2013 YTD U.S. tile consumption was at 1.89 billion sq. ft. (175.8 million sq m), up 12.0% vs. 3Q 2012 YTD. Based on data available to date and early 4Q indications, we estimate 2013 U.S. tile consumption to be 2.48 billion sq. ft. (230.2 million sq. m), up 12.9% vs. 2012.

Read the full article published on Ceramic World Review 105/2014. Click here to download the pdf version.