With romantic ambiance in the air and Valentine's Day right around the corner, fireplaces and hearth products provide an atmosphere many consumers desire. According to the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association, nearly half of all U.S. homes have at least one fireplace
With hearth fast becoming a staple of American homes, there's no wonder new home buyers rank hearth among the top three features desired in their new home, that's after outdoor porches and upgraded kitchens, according to the National Association of Home Builders.
So whether celebrating Valentine's Day or simply seeking warmth on a chilly day, hearth and hearth products are something that consumers can warm up to in these winter months.
Q4 |
Q1 |
Q2 |
Q3 |
Sept. |
Oct. |
Nov. |
|
2006 |
2007 |
||||||
Total |
4.5% |
4.7% |
5.3% |
6.5% |
2.6% |
1.0% |
7.4% |
Revolving |
7.8 |
5.4 |
6.8 |
8.8 |
6.0 |
8.5 |
11.3 |
Nonrevolving |
2.6 |
4.4 |
4.5 |
5.2 |
0.6 |
-3.5 |
5.1 |
Permits |
United States |
Northeast |
Midwest |
South |
West |
November '07 |
1,152 |
128 |
189 |
576 |
259 |
Change from Nov. '06 |
-24.6% |
-11.7% |
-18.2% |
-28.0% |
-26.2% |
Starts |
|||||
November '07 |
1,187 |
128 |
202 |
601 |
256 |
Change from Nov. '06 |
-24.2% |
-16.3% |
-11.0% |
-27.4% |
-28.3% |
New home sales |
|||||
November '07 |
647 |
46 |
92 |
352 |
157 |
Change from Nov. '06 |
-34.4% |
-28.1% |
-38.7% |
-34.3% |
-33.8% |
Existing home sales |
|||||
November '07 |
5,000 |
870 |
1,180 |
1,990 |
960 |
Change from Nov. '06 |
-20.0% |
-19.4% |
-16.9% |
-19.4% |
-25.0% |