Continued consolidation coupled with the housing
slump in the U.S. resulted in flat or lower sales for many PHCP wholesalers in
2007.
According to some
estimates, 2007 sales for plumbing wholesalers decreased from 5% to 15% or
more in some instances, depending on their mix and location. For example, in
markets like Florida and the Southwest where residential new construction -
fueled by sub-prime mortgages - had overheated, wholesalers that focused mainly
on residential plumbing may have seen sales decline by 30% or more.