Armstrong is advising its retailers and distributors to brace for yet another round of price hikes in the coming months. The company says it has been hit with a spike in the cost of raw materials and anticipates increasing prices by as much as 10%. The company’s vp of sales, Paul Murfin, said the company has been unable to adsorb the added costs.
“Despite two increases this year, we have been unable to recover dramatic raw material increases, particularly in PVC resins, plasticizers and melamine. This further is compounded by increases in freight,” said Murfin. “All products are affected, including Vinyl Composition Tile, Commercial Sheet Vinyl, Commercial Wallbase, Linoleum, Residential Sheet and Tile, Luxury Vinyl Tile, select Laminate products, Adhesives and Floor Care products.
“While the bulk of our raw materials increases are on the resilient side of our business, energy and transportation costs also are adding pressure to the hardwood segment,” Murfin continued. The specific increases will be finalized by mid-August and made effective with shipments on September 15, 2008.
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