Lancaster, Pa.—Following a period of time that saw no price hikes, some resilient manufacturers have announced, due to various factors, they will be raising their prices. Armstrong Floor Products is increasing prices of selected residential and commercial resilient, laminate and installation, maintenance and accessory products by three to five percent, effective immediately. The rise is driven by increases in raw materials, particularly PVC resins, as well as packaging and en ergy costs and Armstrong suppliers have announced additional increases. According to Rik Born, vice president of distributor sales, this is the first price increase in more than two years. “Through purchasing and aggressive cost control initiatives, every attempt has been made to minimize the impact these price trends have had on both Armstrong and our customers in terms of increased costs.”

 Kim Holm, president of residential business for Mannington, said, “We’ve been evaluating the situation as well and it’s been several years, quite honestly, since the industry has passed on a price increase. We have had rising costs over the last several years in raw material pricing, labor, medical benefits, insurance costs and the like. We feel a need to pass through a price increase. “We still feel that vinyl represents the greatest value to our industry and it will continue to do so, but we will be passing a price increase through also,” he added. “We are looking at a three to five percent increase.” At press time, the other major resilient manufacturers were contemplating a price increase as well.