Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/233313
IBS 2014 | by Howard Shingle | Building Confidence The 2014 International Builders Show offers more of everything while markets gain strength. With recent good news along with other segments of the home building industry," says NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. Building on these strong trends, NAHB announced several changes to its 2014 International Builders Show, each planned for making IBS a better learning and networking experience. The biggest change to the upcoming IBS is its collocation with the National Kitchen & Bath Association's Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS). This new arrangement, scheduled to become an annual event, is being billed as the first Design & Construction Week. By collocating these two events, attendees can see and talk with exhibitors from every aspect of the industry during the same days, all for one low price. As an added bonus, attendees also will have access to the show floor of a third show, the International Window Coverings Expo. Taken together, Design & Construction Week is expected to draw more than 75,000 builders, remodelers, developers, architects and other industry professionals from more than 100 countries. It will be the one place the and solid forecasts ahead for the home building industry, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is urging builders to "Expect More" at the 2014 International Builders Show (IBS) set for the Las Vegas Convention Center, February 4 to 6, 2014. Many sectors of the industry reported improvements in third quarter 2013. In October, the Remodeling Market Index (RMI) continued to climb, rising to 57. NAHB reports that was the highest reading since the first quarter of 2004. A RMI above 50 indicates that more remodelers report market activity is higher compared to the previous quarter than report it is lower. Then in early November, the NAHB reported builder confidence in the 55-plus housing market also showed continued improvement in the third quarter 2013 compared to the same period a year ago. All segments of that market—single-family homes, condominiums and multifamily rental— registered strong increases. "Right now the positive year over year increase in confidence by builders for the 55-plus For 2014, more than 75,000 builders, remodelers, architects and other industry professionals and an anticipated 1,500 exhibitors will meet for the collocated IBS and KBIS shows. market is tracking right 12 STORM & SECURITY PROTECTION / IBS PREVIEW 2014