Last year was a big year in flooring in terms of financial performance and transaction activity. Nearly halfway into 2022, many signs point to a strong year – but economic drivers causing uncertainty should not be overlooked.
As the pandemic inches closer to our rearview mirrors, increased market stability has been stalled by war in Europe, among other factors. Inflation is an ongoing concern, especially with oil (an essential component of vinyl flooring products). Add in rising interest rates, which are threatening to drive up mortgage and home improvement financing rates (and therefore slow growth in new home construction), and it comes as no surprise that consumer confidence currently sits below pre-pandemic levels.