WE’RE NOT ALONE: Manufacturers are being battered by higher costs to produce their goods, and they are passing these increases on to dealers, who then must move the boosts on to the consumer. Before you lament your fate in this pecking order, think about your counterparts in faraway lands. Dow Chemical has announced price increases for emulsion polymer effective Aug.1. The company and its affiliates are raising prices 120 Euro/MT on all styrene butadiene and styrene acrylate latex technologies sold into the carpet industry in Europe, India, the Middle East and Africa. The grass isn’t always greener in your neighbor’s backyard—it only seems that way. In Europe gasoline costs more, and it should since its called “petrol” and sold by the liter, fancy stuff.

WELCOME: Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft and the world’s third richest man, has followed his good friend Warren Buffett, fellow-billionaire, into the floor covering business. Buffett’s company, Berkshire Hathaway, owns Shaw Industries and retail operations. Gates bought a 3% stake in Carpetright, the 675- store retail chain in the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland and Belgium, owned by Lord Harris of Peckham. Gates’ Cascade Investment paid about $30 million for the 3%, which makes it the 15th biggest shareholder in the U.K.’s largest flooring retailer. Carpetright, headquartered in Purfleet in Essex, was founded by Lord Harris, who owns 23% of the shares and is the company’s biggest shareholder.

WONDERFUL STORY: Jack R. Tyner founded Regal Distributing Co. in Spartanburg, S.C., in 1962. Today his son Jack R. Tyner Jr., is president of the company, and he has had various health problems in recent years. Well, the 53-year-old executive had a successful kidney transplant at the University Medical Center in Charleston, S.C. Now, here is the warm and wonderful part of the story: The kidney donor was his 21-year-old daughter, Allie. She is a young lady of courage and character who performed the noblest act of all—honoring her father with love and life. The rapidly recovering president says he will be back at work soon.

GREAT IDEA: Blakley’s Flooring of Indianapolis, central Indiana’s largest commercial and residential dealer, found one way to beat the high and still rising cost of energy. The company has implemented a unique floor recycling program that helps improve the environment and provide fuel to local homes and businesses. Each day, Blakley’s recycles enough carpet to fill three two-car garages. It has its own shredding machine that breaks down old flooring materials, including carpet, vinyl and wood. The shredded material is delivered to Indianapolis Power & Light, where it is converted to steam and used to help power the city. Blakley’s is a third-generation, family-owned business that was founded in 1898 and because it’s hot, Indianapolis families will stay warm this winter.

NEW RULES: America’s workforce is graying and many in it are staying—past the conventional “rocking chair” time. As baby boomers reach their 50s and 60s, they are rewriting the rules of retirement. And as prominent and influential as they are in the workplace, I guess they can tweak the rules. It seems 68% of workers over age 50 plan to work into their retirement years or not retire at all. And the trend is heading in that direction. In 1950, nearly half of the men 65 and older were still working. That declined to 16% in the early ’80s, edged up to 19% and is expected to increase further. Employment for ages 55 and over was 16.6 million in 1998 and 25.7 million in 2007. By 2012, nearly 20% of the work force will be 55 and older. By 2030 the U.S. population aged 65 and older is expected to double. Me worry? I’ll be retired by then.