Anderson, S.C. -- Another year of positive news from the U.S. economy, gains in the construction and housing markets, as well as historically low interest rates and falling unemployment, helped the U.S. ceramic tile market increase for the eighth year in a row, according to the Tile Council of North America (TCNA).
In 2017 U.S. ceramic tile market surpassed the three billion sq. ft. level for the first time since 2006. Total consumption was 3.05 billion sq. ft., up 5.1% from 2016 and the fourth highest total of all time. In 2017 the U.S. imported 2.10 billion sq. ft. of ceramic tile, up 5.6% from 2016 (1.99 billion sq. ft.). Imports comprised 68.9% of 2017 U.S. tile consumption in sq. ft., up slightly from 68.6% in 2016.