Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes reached its highest level since May 2007, reaching a level of 29 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). This is a gain of five points from the previous month, which was downwardly revised.

Home Depot’s Craig Menear, executive VP merchandising, shared details and data from a first quarter that saw double-digit comps in certain seasonal product categories.

Overall, Home Depot saw comp-store sales increase 5.8% in the first quarter of strong sales and earnings growth.

Global building materials supplier Lafarge has appointed John Stull as president and CEO, United States, putting him in charge of all aggregate, cement and concrete operations in the United States.

The appointment now brings these Lafarge business lines in the United States together under a single leader, which the company said will focus its delivery on sustainable solutions to the construction industry.

The American Hardware Manufacturers Association (AHMA) Industry Confidence Index included questions about running mates and political agendas.

The April Confidence Index survey asked two supplemental questions of AHMA members:

“Assuming Mitt Romney becomes the Republican candidate for president, which of the following would you most like to see selected as his vice presidential running mate?”

A new program by the U.S. Green Building Council may multiply the number of LEED-certified retail outlets, restaurants and hotels by making it easier for developers to get their projects pre-certified.

Panasonic Corp. of North America has renamed its Home and Environment as the Eco Products Division, which will house its ventilation fan business. This product line includes 18 products of high-performance, Energy Star-rated, whole-home ventilation solutions that improve indoor air quality and comply with the latest building standards and codes.

The world’s largest retailer is taking steps to display its home improvement prowess through a digital marketing campaign centered on a “Projects Made Simple” area at Walmart.com.

There’s a lot riding on how the United States government defines green building. A review process has groups jockeying for position, according to an article in Federal Times.

Among the building material groups pressing for revisions to the LEED-centric status quo are the PVC pipe manufacturers and the lumber industry.

By August 2012, U.S. businesses that sponsor fully insured group health plans could share millions of dollars in rebates from health insurers who spent more on administrative expenses and profits than allowed by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), finds an analysis from the not-for-profit Kaiser Family Foundation.

Here’s good news: Gas prices continue their retreat, down to a national average of $3.73 for a gallon of regular, according to the American Automobile Association.

Millwork Products LLC, a Paducah, Ky.-based firm, has opened a new location in Wilkesboro, N.C. and hired most of the former workers of a closed Jeld-Wen facility, according to an article in the Winston-Salem Journal. 

Spoga+gafa is coming back to Cologne, Germany, Sept. 2 to 4, creating a global marketplace for outdoor living buyers and sellers. 

One of the buzzwords at this year’s event is sustainability, which will play a more prominent role in the event’s “Boulevard of Ideas.” The trade fair for the lawn and garden sector -- named for the German words for sports/leisure and garden -- is organized by Koelnmesse and held in Cologne.