WOLF's KBI reflects seasonal slowdown

Kitchen cabinet and building material supplier WOLF has released its monthly Key Buyer Index (KBI) for October, which has been slowing down since August in a seasonally predictable manner.

October registered a score of 59.69 (comparatively, a score of 50 reflects a neutral outlook, and anything above 50 reads as a positive outlook).

Last month was down 6.5 points since September and 10 since August, however, reflecting a common industry pull-back as winter approaches and the deck season slows.

WOLF gathers data for the KBI from a monthly survey of key buyers at independent kitchen and bath and building materials dealers across a 28-state region in the eastern U.S, extending from Maine to Texas.



Regionally, Mid-Atlantic dealers are expecting a traditional pre-holiday rush together with an increase in November business confidence. The Northeast had a favorable reading for kitchen products, but not for building products. And the Midwest and Southeast's KBI dropped below 50 to 48.33, where dealers are seeing less foot traffic in their stores.



An overall KBI score of 59.69 notes a slight slowdown, but optimism continues, spurred by warmer than normal temperatures, continued outside construction and strong kitchen and bath project activity.