Hicksville, N.Y.—If you think your monthly bills are already high, guess again. The continued escalation of raw materials prices and transportation costs combined with a weakening U.S. dollar on the world market is forcing flooring manufactures to implement their own rate hikes. As discouraging as this may sound, many executives note these increases will not even offset the raises they are getting hit with from their suppliers.

Last issue, editor and publisher Al Wahnon warned readers to expect a price increase on the soft surfaces side as the major suppliers of a key raw ingredient were tacking on additional costs for their products in February.

Now, bills for various types of hard surface flooring are on the rise. Three of the four major resilient manufacturers each announced across the board increases, ranging between 5% and 7% starting in March.

Beginning with shipments on March 1, Congoleum is raising prices 5%. Dennis Jarosz, senior vice president of sales and marketing, added, “Any orders placed by Feb. 22, calling for immediate release will be shipped at current pricing irrespective of our ability to ship them by March 1. Any orders received the week of Feb. 25 will only be billed at current prices if they can be shipped by Feb. 29.”

On March 3, Armstrong will up prices between 5% and 7% depending on the resilient product—including linoleum and wall base. One week later, Mannington said it will implement a similar rate hike on its residential and commercial products.

Jeff Krejsa, director of marketing for Tarkett/ Johnsonite, said the company “feels the same impact as everyone else,” and that officials see an increase as “eminent. We’re examining every one of our products in residential and commercial—including laminate.” He added a final decision as to how much and when it will raise prices has not been made.

Each resilient mill pointed out that key ingredients in their products not only skyrocketed in costs in 2007 but, like the carpet category, are going up even more the following month.

Raw materials skyrocket

Officials told FCNews that over the course of the last 12 months alone, certain raw materials have gone up as much as 30%. During the same period, the cost of diesel fuel also shot up as much as 40%. Manufacturers of other product categories echoed similar numbers with relation to the increased transportation costs.

Speaking of laminate, while Tarkett is considering to what degree and when it will raise prices, Armstrong said it will be the same rate as its resilient hike and will take effect on the same date as well.

FCNews contacted the other major laminate players, but they were unavailable for comment at press time.