Employment grew for the first time in seven months, beating expectations, as the jobless rate fell for a second straight month, according to the U.S. Labor Department.
Ceiling and flooring maker Armstrong Holdings Inc. reported a 17% rise in operating earnings, spurred by demand for its cabinets and easy-to-clean vinyl and laminate flooring.
The U.S. Commerce Department reported that factory orders rose a higher-than-expected 1.6% in January, to a seasonally adjusted $325.8 billion, after a revised 0.7% rise in December.
Formica Corp. recently announced that it has reached agreement with its secured lender bank group on a credit facility to support its ongoing business operations.
As part of the company¿s continuing restructuring initiatives, Beaulieu Residential says it will exit the hard-surface flooring and general distribution business in the West and Southwest United States by returning those facets of its operation to the former shareholders of LDBrinkman.