Editorial Comment: Just a few questions for the New Year
We could use that hackneyed expression "cautiously optimistic" to summarize our informal survey on what the flooring industry can expect this year. But for accuracy's sake it might be better to describe the climate as "nervously hopeful." Demand for flooring is advancing along with the quality of the products and the supply pipeline is certainly becoming more efficient-but that, apparently, is not enough. People we spoke to frequently said their confidence in 2006 is tinged by a host of factors beyond their control: fuel prices, a shortage of raw materials, more lower priced imports, big box retailers, fluctuating interest rates...the list goes on.
So 2006 enters with a shroud of question marks. Here, then, in no particular order are a few of the questions that are likely to determine how this year plays out for the flooring industry: