Window industry works hard to stay flat.(Window Report)

NEW YORK -- A continued deflationary trend in the soft window business during 2004 saw retailers moving more lower-priced items for largely the same overall dollar amount, as the size of the business at retail remained flat at $2.6 billion.

"It is no secret that the amount of finished goods coming in from offshore has driven prices down," said Barry Goodman, vice president of national accounts with Montreal-based Commonwealth Home Fashions.

Frank Foley, CEO of New York-based CHF Industries, said business was especially slow at retail in the back half of 2004