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Printable Version
AMERICAN HARDWARE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION
Terrence V. Gallagher
Manager of Communications
801 North Plaza Drive
Schaumburg, Illinois 60173
847-592-3504
tgallagher@ahma.org
P.R. # AHMA10-12
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April AHMA Confidence Index Shows Current Sales Levels at All-Time High, Expectations for Future Sales Also at Highest Level
Manufacturers Also Favor a Moderate or Conservative Supreme Court Nominee and Are Not Opposed to New Banking / Financial Regulation
Schaumburg, Illinois, May 5, 2010 —The American Hardware Manufacturers Association’s AHMA Home Improvement Industry Confidence Index’s Current Situation Index improved in April to 254.2 from 183.3 in March (October 2008 = 100), while the Future Expectations Index improved to 248.3 from 220.7 a month earlier. Both indexes attained all-time high levels for the 18-month old survey.
In comparing current sales levels to year-ago levels, 61 percent of respondents said sales were higher in April versus year-ago levels, up from 44 percent in March. For April, 24 percent reported sales were even, and 16 percent said sales were below year-ago levels.
Looking forward six months, 68 percent of March respondents said they expect sales to be above current levels, up from 56 percent in March. In April, 29 percent of respondents said they expect sales to be even in six months and just three 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 March. Twenty-one percent of April respondents project sales will be even one year from now and three percent project sales will be below current levels.
Timothy S. Farrell, President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Hardware Manufacturers Association (AHMA), said: “It is very encouraging to see 85 percent of our members reporting sales above, or even with, year-ago levels. It is our hope that macroeconomic factors will continue to steadily improve so as to provide a sustainable recovery for the hardware / home improvement industry and the country as a whole. ”
“Hot Topic” Questions
The April Confidence Index survey asked two supplemental questions of AHMA members:
“President Obama will soon be announcing his nominee to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens. Which political “type” of nominee would you like to see in regards to their past track record on constitutional opinions?” and “Do you feel legislation currently under consideration to impose new restrictions on the banking / financial industry is necessary?”
To the first question, on the Supreme Court nominee, three percent responded “Liberal,” 47 percent responded “Moderate,” and 50 percent responded “Conservative.”
On their opinion of the banking / financial legislation, 43 percent responded “Yes,” 32 percent responded “Not Sure,” and 24 percent responded “No.”
About the AHMA Home Improvement Industry Confidence Index
The AHMA Home Improvement Industry Confidence Index is a monthly indicator of the economic health and “mood” of the industry based on a survey of AHMA members.
The data collected from the survey produces two Indexes indicating: 1) Current Situation and 2) Future Expectations. Both Indexes use survey data from October 2008 as the base reference point so that October 2008 = 100.
The AHMA Home Improvement Industry Confidence Index results are released on the first Wednesday of every month.
Results of the Index survey are viewable online here: http://www.ahma.org/ConfidenceIndex/April2010Results.
About the American Hardware Manufacturers Association (AHMA)
AHMA is a globally focused trade association of manufacturers, or providers, of hardware, home improvement, lawn and garden, paint and decorating, building and construction and related products, as well as manufacturers’ representative’s agencies and trade publications.
AHMA offers many valuable member and industry programs, services and activities including the AHMA Hardlines Technology Forum, AHMA / USA International Pavilions, AHMA Advantage GPO, the AHMA eAGLE, The Hard Fax: Home Improvement Industry News, The Hard Fax International: Home Improvement Industry News from Around the World, the AHMA Home Improvement Industry Confidence Index, the AHMA Home Improvement Industry Dashboard, Government Relations Programs, Member Benefit Vendor Programs, the AHMA Hardware Industry Relief Effort (HIRE) and the AHMA / Habitat for Humanity Partnership.
For more information about AHMA, please visit www.ahma.org.
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