Comment

The general feeling in the paint industry at the end of a year that has witnessed considerable ‘belt tightening’ is that we have hit bottom and will start to climb back in 1976, as the US paint industry is already doing. However, let it be noted that US paint production by the end of this year will decline 1.8% to 915 million gallons, paced by a 7% drop in output of chemical coatings, according to a new survey. Virtually all the increase in dollar sales in both 1974 and 1975 can be attributed to the effects of inflation as poor economic conditions have adversely affected the primary markets for paint products, especially industrial finishes.