Cabinet manufacturers reported overall cabinet sales of were down 9.1% for February 2026 compared to the same month in 2025. However, sales were up in all segments compared to January figures.

WASHINGTON — Total nonresidential construction spending was virtually unchanged in January, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published today by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, nonresidential spending totaled $1.245 trillion.Spending was down on a monthly basis in 9 of the 16 nonresidential subcategories. Private nonresidential spending was down 0.4%, while public nonresidential construction spending was up 0.6% in January.

the construction industry lost 11,000 jobs on net in February. On a year-over-year basis, industry employment grew by 42,000 jobs, an increase of 0.5%.

By the Numbers is a monthly column providing facts and figures on the woodworking industry. By the Numbers is sponsored by IMA Schelling Group. 

New residential furniture orders dropped 11% in December compared to the previous month, but were up 1% compared to the 2024 figure, according to Smith Leonard's February issue of Furniture Insights. For the year, furniture orders were flat compared to 2024.

Persistent affordability challenges, including high housing price-to-income ratios and elevated land and construction costs, helped push builder confidence lower for the second straight month to start the year.

Confidence in the market for new multifamily housing decreased year-over-year in the fourth quarter, according to the Multifamily Market Survey (MMS) released by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

New residential furniture orders rose 2% in November compared to the previous month, but were down 3% compared to 2024's figure, according to the January issue of Furniture Insights.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The construction industry had 292,000 job openings on the last day of December, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. JOLTS defines a job opening as any unfilled position for which an employer is actively recruiting. Industry job openings increased by 8,000 in December and are up by 87,000 from the same time last year.

By the Numbers is a monthly column providing facts and figures on the woodworking industry.