INDUSTRY NEWS

February AHMA Confidence Index Shows Sales Levels Rising, Steady Expectations for Future Sales

03/09/2010

SCHAUMBURG, IL -- The American Hardware Manufacturers Association's AHMA Home Improvement Industry Confidence Index's Current Situation Index improved significantly in February to 162.5 from 100 in January, while the Future Expectations Index remained unchanged at 229.3.

In comparing current sales levels to year-ago levels, 39 percent of respondents said sales were higher in February versus year-ago levels, up from 24 percent in January. For February, 27 percent reported sales were even, and 33 percent said sales were below year-ago levels.

Looking forward six months, 57 percent of February respondents said they expect sales to be above current levels, down from 61 percent in January. In February, 39 percent of respondents said they expect sales to be even in six months and just 4 percent expect sales to be below current levels.

Looking forward one year, 76 percent of respondents project sales will be higher, up from 72 percent who felt that way in January. Twenty-two percent of February respondents project sales will be even one year from now and two percent project sales will be below current levels.

Timothy S. Farrell, President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Hardware Manufacturers Association (AHMA), said: "For the past three months our members' sales have been improving versus year-ago levels. Still, however, the industry continues to struggle against a number of negative macroeconomic trends making it extremely difficult to operate at the levels we would like to see."