Federal, state and local regulations add $131,734 to the cost of a new single-family home, 26.4% of the average sales price of $499,500 as of January, according to a new study by the National Association of Home Builders. The study found that $84,939 of the final house price is the result of costs the builder incurs from regulations during construction, and $46,795 attributed to regulation during land development.
Small business optimism fell 0.6 points in May to 95.3, still below its 52-year average of 98.0, according to the National Federation of Independent Business. The Uncertainty Index increased 3 points from April to 91, well above the historical average of 68.
Stiles Machinery (Grand Rapids, Mich.) will return to the International Woodworking Fair in Atlanta, August 25–28, to showcase more than 60 machines and technologies, including CNC routing brands and sanding and finishing supplies. Stiles’ primary exhibit will be in booths B4835 and B4853 in Exhibit Hall B. Learn more here.
Dennis Blake, former Western Floor Covering Association chairman and industry leader, died on June 5 after five decades in the floor covering industry. Blake helped form the WFCA, was the founder and certified fraud examiner of Better Floors & Restorations (Placentia, Calif.), and mentored countless flooring professionals.
