WMA SURVEYS
MEMBERS TO PARTICIPATE
WMA Annual Convention Survey
An Annual Convention Survey was emailed to WMA members. Please provide us with your feedback for an opportunity to win a complimentary registration to the 2016 WMA Annual Convention. The survey deadline is January 28, 2016.
WMA Distributor Compensation & Benefit Survey
Coming soon….
World Millwork Alliance (WMA) has partnered with North American Building Material Distribution Association (NBMDA) as well as North American Association of Floor Covering Distributors (NAFCD) to conduct a comprehensive Compensation & Benefits survey which will help you benchmark your company; not only in the industry, but also amongst other companies in distribution.
WMA Distributor Members who participate in the survey may receive the 2016 Distributor Compensation and Benefit Report at no cost.
We encourage all distributor members to participate and take advantage of obtaining a copy of the 2016 Compensation Report for your business!
The survey will be communicated in the next few days! Make sure you are logged into the WMA website membership portal to access the survey.
CODES & STANDARDS UPDATE
ANSI/WMA 100-2016 Published
The ANSI/WMA 100-2016, Standard Method of Determining Structural Performance Ratings of Side-Hinged Exterior Door Systems and Procedures for Component Substitution, was published this week and can be ordered from the WMA website. The standard was approved as an American National Standard on December 1, 2015 by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
The ANSI/WMA 100-2016 replaces and is the latest edition of the ANSI/AMD 100, which went through a limited revision cycle last year in accordance with ANSI consensus requirements. Revisions made include:
• Updating the standard’s title
• Updating the alphanumeric reference and all Association of Millwork Distributors (AMD) references to reflect the association’s name change to World Millwork Alliance (WMA)
• Adding metric measurement references
• Updating the listing of referenced standards
• Revising the Door Configuration Qualification Table (Table 8.1)
ANSI/WMA 100 is a performance standard for determining structural performance ratings of residential Side-Hinged Exterior Door Systems (SHEDS) and includes procedures for component substitution. The ANSI/WMA 100 has been developed under the auspices of WMA’s Industry Standards and Certification Committee (ISCC).
For additional information please contact Jessica Ferris, WMA Director of Codes and Standards.
ECONOMICS & BUSINESS NEWS
The Employment Situation
December 2015
Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 292,000 in December, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 5.0 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment gains occurred in several industries, led by professional and business services, construction, health care, and food services and drinking places.
Read more at Bureau of Labor Statistics
Consumer Confidence in December
Beyond the Monthly Volatile Data
Consumer confidence improved in December after the previous two months declines. The Consumer Confidence Index, recently released by the Conference Board, rose to 96.5 in December from 92.6 in November. Both subcomponents, the present situation and expectations indices, rebounded in December as well. The present situation index rose to 115.3 in December from 110.9 in November; the expectations index climbed up to 83.9 in December from 80.4 in November.
Read More at NAHB Eye on Housing
HOUSING INDUSTRY NEWS
The 8 States Most At Risk Of A Housing Crisis
The plummeting price of oil has some states at a much higher risk of a housing crisis, a new report from Arch MI found. According to the private mortgage insurer’s latest Housing & Mortgage Market Review, the average likelihood of home price declines across the country over the next two years remains low, at 6%, but some states are at a much higher risk of seeing price declines.
Read more at HOUSINGWIRE
Hottest Housing Markets for 2016
ZILLOW is reporting housing experts predict U.S. home value growth around 3.5 percent this year. But which markets are leading the charge?
To determine the hottest real estate markets for 2016, we looked at the Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) Forecast, recent income growth and current unemployment rates. These variables were scaled and combined equally to form a “hotness score.”
WMA WEBSITE TIP OF THE WEEK
Member Directory
WMA members can access a list of current members through WorldMillworkAlliance.com.
Visit the WMA website, navigate to the “Members Only” menu and select “Member Directory”. You can search for members by any of the following criteria:
Please note: to view a full listing of current members in any one category, simply leave the search form blank and click the continue” button.
For login information to the Membership Portal or
assistance setting up your profile,
contact Caterina Byrd
email: cbyrd@worldmillworkalliance.com
