July '01 WeatherGauge - temperature variance figures - Brief Article - Illustration - Statistical Data Included

Home Channel News, Sept 3, 2001

July '01  WeatherGauge
                        Temperature
                  (% variance from normal)
                            2001             2000
Atlanta                    -0.20%            3.25%
Boston                     -4.72%           -4.85%
Buffalo, N.Y.              -1.81%           -4.99%
Charlotte, N.C.            -3.72%            2.97%
Chicago                     1.97%           -2.93%
Cincinnati                 -1.19%           -3.37%
Cleveland                  -0.08%           -5.36%
Dallas                      2.99%            1.99%
Denver                      4.34%            4.30%
Detroit                     1.67%           -2.88%
Houston                     1.11%            3.14%
Indianapolis               -1.35%           -3.12%
Kansas City, Mo.            2.85%           -2.20%
Las Vegas                  -0.86%            1.26%
Los Angeles                -1.80%           -0.70%
Minneapolis                 3.10%           -1.62%
Nashville, Tenn.            0.61%            1.28%
New Orleans                 1.22%            3.33%
New York                   -1.67%           -3.74%
Norfolk, Va.               -2.28%           -2.37%
Philadelphia               -1.70%           -3.45%
Phoenix                     1.00%            1.52%
Pittsburgh                 -2.63%           -4.67%
Portland, Ore.             -2.54%           -0.61%
San Diego                  -2.84%           -2.64%
San Francisco              -0.03%           -2.19%
Seattle                    -4.23%           -1.41%
St. Louis                   1.07%           -2.77%
Tampa, Fla.                -0.06%            0.02%
Washington                 -5.95%           -6.69%
                        Precipitation
                  (days with 0.01   inches)
                            2001             2000
Atlanta                      11               8
Boston                       10               10
Buffalo, N.Y.                 9               8
Charlotte, N.C.              14               7
Chicago                       8               5
Cincinnati                   16               12
Cleveland                     5               11
Dallas                        3               0
Denver                       12               8
Detroit                       6               8
Houston                       8               2
Indianapolis                 12               8
Kansas City, Mo.              9               10
Las Vegas                     1               0
Los Angeles                   0               0
Minneapolis                   8               10
Nashville, Tenn.              7               7
New Orleans                  14               4
New York                      7               9
Norfolk, Va.                 11               15
Philadelphia                  8               12
Phoenix                       7               2
Pittsburgh                    9               12
Portland, Ore.                5               2
San Diego                     0               0
San Francisco                 0               0
Seattle                       7               4
St. Louis                    10               6
Tampa, Fla.                  19               15
Washington                   10               12
Planalytics (Wayne, Pa.)technologies and services
make plans more completeby incorporating into
existing planning systemsa better underestanding
of the factors that influence consumer purchasin
behavior, such as theweather, competition, the
economy and demographics.One of these services,
Impact LR, provides clients with the specific
impact of future weatheron consumer demand by
product, location andtime. The Planalytics
WeatherGauge is based onactual average monthly
temperatures and numberof days with measurable
precipitation. The temperature percent variance
figures for each of the30 cities are derived by
comparing actual temperatures to normal
temperatures, representedby zero. Days of
precipitation are derivedby counting days of rain
or snow with a liquidequivalent of 0.01 inches
or more.
BUSINESS BAROMETER
Quarterly sales forecast by region
National and regional quarterly sales history and one-year
forecast for building material retailers. Figures are
in-billions of dollars. Data for second quarter 2001 are
estimates; following are forecasts.
                '00     '01     '02
                 3Q      3Q      3Q
United States  $31.95  $35.37  $38.45
Northeast       $5.40   $5.96   $6.49
Midwest         $7.07   $7.80   $8.51
South          $12.13  $13.52  $14.64
West            $7.35   $8.10   $8.81
Sales keep climbing Sales continue to rise rapidly
for home centers and retail lumberyards. The recovery
in housing starts across all regions of the country has
boosted pro sales in particular. The Northeast enjoys
the best gains of the four regions. As the recovery
continues, look for the Northeast to begin to trail
the national gain. The Midwest is recovering but
will remain the softest region this year.
Manufacturing is down because of declines in domestic,
European and Asian economies, The South will post a gain
similar to the national increase. The West should
post the second-best gain. Pro sales are recovering from
weak levels in 2000.
Sales are estimated by BMRI as the sum of home
centers and retail lumberyards, NAICS codes 44411
and 4441901.
Sources: U.S. Department of Commerce, Building Materials
Research Institute