US DOE Proposes New Rule to Reform Energy Efficiency Standard-Setting Process USA: The US Department of Energy (DOE) has proposed changes to its Process Rule governing how future energy efficiency standards are developed for appliances and equipment, including air conditioners and water heaters. The proposal would not repeal existing standards but aims to make future rulemaking more transparent by giving greater consideration to affordability, product availability, performanc

Voltas Leads Another Round of Air Conditioner Price Increases in India INDIA: Air conditioner manufacturers in India are preparing another round of price increases as elevated raw material costs and currency pressures continue to squeeze margins. Voltas raised AC prices by 2–3% in July, an unusual move during the monsoon off-season, with other brands expected to follow by increasing prices by a further 3–4% in the coming weeks. The latest revisions follow cumulative price inc

Ferguson to Acquire FloWorks in US$1.6 Billion Deal to Expand Industrial Distribution Business USA: Ferguson has agreed to acquire industrial distributor FloWorks from Wynnchurch Capital in a cash transaction valued at approximately US$1.6 billion, with completion expected in the third quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approval. The acquisition will strengthen Ferguson’s position in industrial flow control by adding expertise in valves, valve automation and repair servic

US Existing Home Sales Decline USA: Existing home sales in the United States decline by 2.4% month-on-month in June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.09 million, although they remained 2.8% higher than a year earlier, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. Higher mortgage rates and elevated house prices continued to weigh on affordability, despite wage growth outpacing house price increases. Housing inventory declined slightly from May to 1.56 million uni

US Residential Remodeling Market Remains Resilient Despite Cost Pressures USA: The National Association of Home Builders' (NAHB) Remodeling Market Index (RMI) recorded 61 in the second quarter of 2026, remaining in positive territory despite a slight decline from the previous quarter. Strong homeowner equity and an ageing housing stock continue to support demand for residential renovation projects. However, remodelers reported ongoing challenges from rising material costs, ec

US Construction Market Shows Stable Outlook as Data Centre Investment Drives Growth USA: Rider Levett Bucknall's second-quarter 2026 Quarterly Construction Cost Report indicates that the US construction market has entered a period of stable growth, with construction cost inflation easing to around 1% per quarter. Strong investment in data centres, infrastructure, healthcare and education has increased the national construction backlog to 8.8 months, providing a solid pipeline

French Sanitary Taps Exports FRANCE: French exports of sanitary taps and fittings increased by 26.7% between 2023 and 2025, driven mainly by strong growth in bathroom taps and mixers. Bathroom taps accounted for around 71% of total sanitary tap exports in 2025, with Germany and Spain emerging as the largest export markets, followed by Belgium, Italy, Portugal and the UK. Exports to Morocco also increased, while shipments to the United States declined significantly despite its

US Enacts Bipartisan ROAD to Housing Act USA: The United States has enacted the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, aimed at improving housing affordability and increasing the supply of homes. The legislation introduces measures to accelerate residential construction, including the use of pre-approved home designs, streamlined planning processes and updated regulations for manufactured housing. It also modernises federal housing programmes, eases financing for smalle

energy efficiency EUROPE: Following confirmation from the European Environment Agency that the EU27 is on track to achieve its agreed energy and climate targets for the 2020s, the European Union has shifted its focus toward defining energy efficiency priorities for the post-2030 period. On 18 June, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy (DG Energy) held the first of two stakeholder workshops to discuss the future EU energy efficiency policy framework beyond

Bathroom ITALY: Nearly two years after the Villeroy & Boch Group acquired Ideal Standard, the integration has reached a significant milestone with the launch of the first jointly developed product collections. The acquisition has broadened Villeroy & Boch’s product portfolio by adding fittings and shower systems, categories that were previously absent from its offering. In the Italian market, the group follows a dual-brand strategy with clearly differentiated positioning. Ide

HVAC Saudi Arabia: Samsung Electronics will supply more than 1,000 high-efficiency heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) units to over 100 mosques across eight major cities in Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh and Ramah. The company will install its ceiling-mounted 360 Cassette air conditioning systems, engineered to meet the unique cooling requirements of large religious facilities. The units provide uniform air distribution across expansive indoor spaces while oper

Building UK: Housebuilders and housing providers in England and Wales will be subject to more stringent requirements for the design, installation, testing, and certification of ventilation systems under updated Building Regulations set to take effect in 2027. The new provisions are part of the Future Homes and Buildings Standards, which are intended to enhance the energy efficiency of newly built homes and certain construction projects. The regulations apply to new residentia