On the Road: Trade Show Recaps

The Dow finished the week by breaking through 17,000 following the Labor Department’s report that our economy created a much better-than-expected 288,000 jobs in June. More good signs emerged as the employment rate fell to 6.1 percent… that’s the lowest rate since September 2008. As such, we’ve now acquired back the same number of jobs lost since the downturn. What’s more, consumer sentiment continues to be more positive than expectations, with the leading economic indicators rising for the fourth straight month.

New homes surged some 19 percent in May, the largest gain in more than two decades. And as if on cue, pending home sales  jumped more than 6 percent to reach their highest level in eight months. While foreclosure starts rose over 9 percent for the month – the first time in 8 months – the trend remains at the lowest level since 2007 and down 32 percent from a year ago. With 30 year mortgage rates once again at or below a “four-handle,” pre-payment activity rose for the third consecutive month.

Home prices continue to climb in all but eight of the 146 markets reporting as the median listing price of homes rose 8 percent year-over-year. Interesting, the median age of the housing inventory is identical for this May as was the case last May… demand is continuing to absorb homes as quickly as was the pace the year before.

The Kleber & Associates team traveled from Chicago to California last month to check first-hand the state of the industry from the perspective of four separate trade shows. I hope you enjoy our reporting from each unique experience as you celebrate America’s birthday with friends and family this holiday weekend.

All my best,

Steve Kleber
Kleber and Associates

NeoCon 2014, Chicago

Kleber and Associates summer road tour rolled into the Windy City, aka Chicago, last month for NeoCon® 2014- North America’s largest design show and conference for commercial interiors. The show draws more than 40,000 attendees each year from the architecture and design industry eager to see the latest trends.

As we waited in lines for elevators and weaved in and out of the over 700 showrooms and exhibits, we came across a variety of innovative products and resources for corporate hospitality, healthcare, retail, and various other commercial applications. We couldn’t list them all, so here is a collection of K&A’s favorite standout products from NeoCon 2014.

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K&A hosted several client Industrial Design representatives at this annual “incubation lab” event, where we conducted extensive research on popular trends and emerging themes. From small desk accessories to full size cargo containers reclaimed as new age living spaces… the opportunities at the show were rich for exploring dramatic new fabrications and innovative solutions.

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