What Does April’s Drop in Multifamily Starts Mean for Glazing Industry?
The April U.S. Census data for new residential construction are out, and both single-family and multifamily housing starts took a COVID-19-driven hit. Multifamily starts (buildings with five or more units) in particular saw a 39% decline in starts for the month on a seasonally adjusted annualized basis compared to...
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North American Auto Glass Industry Report, 2020 Market Shares and Demand
The North American automotive glass manufacturer market is valued at well over $3 billion, according to the new U.S. and North American Auto Glass Market Report [2020 Edition] from KMR Research, a division of Key Media & Research (KMR). KMR is the primary provider of information for the automotive glass and related...
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A Look at Key Indicators of OEM and Aftermarket Glass Demand
Key Media & Research (KMR) recently released its U.S. and North American Auto Glass Market Report [2020 edition]. The 35-page report is a comprehensive look at the domestic aftermarket and OEM automotive glass industry, covering manufacturer market shares, annual replacement estimates, market landscape, regional and state-by-state demand, and much...
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How Flat Glass Prices Have Trended Since the Recession
Compared to other major materials used in the construction industry, flat glass is rather mild in its price fluctuations over time. However, glass does have its ups and downs just like everything else. Businesses throughout the supply chain have reported to us cost increases related to glass at various...
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Deep Dive: Glass and Glazing Construction Activity in U.S. Through First Quarter of 2019
As the second quarter of 2019 approaches its midpoint, now is as good a time as any to take a look back at the first quarter of the year and see what kind of momentum (if any) has been built in U.S. glass- and glazing-related construction. Glass and glazing...
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Glass and Glazing Construction Was up in 2018
Spending on glass- and glazing-related construction increased in 2018, though at a moderately lower rate than overall construction, according to Key Media & Research analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data. Total construction spending increased 1.6 percent in 2018 compared to 2017 on a seasonally adjusted, annualized rate, the Census...
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Architectural Glass Manufacturers’ 2018 Financials: What We Learned
The results are in, and demand for architectural flat glass remains strong. Four of the major float glass suppliers in North America are publicly traded, and net sales among those companies either edged up or remained at high levels in 2018. Mexico-based Vitro Glass, which operates what was previously...
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December Employment: Glass and Glazing at a Glance
The year 2018 finished with a bang in terms of glass and glazing industry-related employment. While employment spiked in December across the U.S. economy in most major sectors, construction and manufacturing were particularly strong, according to the latest jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Construction employment increased...
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February Nonresidential Spending: What’s Actually Relevant to Glass and Glazing?
The February construction spending numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau came out this week, and they were pretty friendly to the architectural glass and glazing industry. Nonresidential construction as a whole increased just 0.1 percent from January and 1.3 percent from February 2017. However, a deeper look at the...
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Costs, Operational Inefficiencies Among Key Headwinds for Door and Window Companies
Manufacturers in the residential fenestration market are facing many of the same challenges of late, according to some of the latest financial releases from industry companies. The most common factor mentioned across virtually all of the reports was an increase in material costs. Cost Inflation Ply Gem reported that...
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