For the first eight months of this year, new-home construction has fallen 11.2 percent below the pace set during the comparable period in 1986.

A soft market for new-home construction may be hurting the sales of larger items.

But new-home construction attracted them, and their children are now starting school.

But sales of plumbing fixtures are still rising, despite the weakness in new-home construction.

And while new-home construction fell 0.4 percent, it remained at a high level.

"There is a lack of available credit for new-home construction."

Building permits issued for new-home construction, a leading indicator, have also steadily increased since January.

Some are selling products and services aimed at new-home construction.

As the 1960s turned into the 1970s, new-home construction shifted almost entirely to the east side.

The pace of new-home construction, which rose at a 17.6 percent annual rate this winter, was the strongest in four years.