Within the floor covering industry, the hardwood segment has once again emerged as a tenacious survivor in a distressed economy. Blaming Sept. 11 for strained economic conditions was an after-the-fact determination. In reality, growth in the floor covering industry was minimal, at best, as early as June 2001. The reassuring sounds of ringing cash registers were already beginning to be drowned out by the annoying drone of negative economic reports.
But, depending on how you look at it, the news has not been all bad.