Distributors reported first quarter sales were up 10.2%, according to the Specialty Tools & Fasteners Distributors Association Q1 Trend Report.

The sales increase comes despite construction starts being down 7% from 2017 Q1, according to Dodge Data & Analytics Report. Total construction starts for the year ending March 2018 were up 1% from the previous year.

The Dodge figures show nonresidential Q1 construction down 17% despite manufacturing building being up 39%. Nonbuilding construction – which includes public works and utilities – were down 15%.

With a 28.6% jump in 2018 Q1 sales compared with 2017 in the STAFDA Q1 Trend Report, the Pacific region had the strongest increase, followed by 22.4% for the Rocky Mountain Region and 13.8% in the Northeast.  

No region reported sales down, but the North Central region was up only 0.3%.

Canada was up 5.2%. For more information: Stafda.org.