Losses narrow at Huttig

Huttig Building Products, the St. Louis-based building materials distributor, posted its third-quarter results today, with net sales of $131.4 million, a 28% drop from sales of $182.8 million in the same quarter of 2008.

Sales decreased in all product categories, the company said, with a 22% decline in general building products and 30% slump in millwork. Other wood products, mostly commodities, decreased 45%, with engineered wood sales falling 42%.

Huttig reported a net loss of $1.1 million for the quarter, which ended on Sept. 30. This compared with a net loss of $7.7 million during the third quarter of 2008.

In an effort to reduce overhead expenses, Huttig instituted a temporary 10% pay cut on base salaries starting Sept. 28 for its executive officers, corporate office employees and regional staff.