According to a recent study by the Tile Council of North America (TCNA), the U.S. ceramic tile industry sold a record 3.36 billion sq. ft. in 2006 - an increase of 3 percent over the 3.26 billion sq. ft. sold the previous year. Domestic production also increased, with 692 million sq. ft. produced in 2006 compared to 667 million sq. ft. in 2005.

Although the industry set a new record, the TCNA noted that the 3 percent jump in sales volume is still lower than the 3.8 percent spike seen in 2005. The group cited the “slowdown in the new housing market and decline in overall floor covering sales” as reasons for the decline. “However, the strong remodeling and commercial markets continued to bolster tile sales overall,” the TCNA noted.