Editor’s note: As part of Marvin Windows and Doors’ ongoing coverage of the International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas, we’re publishing occasional pieces on trends and topics in the building industry. Check here regularly throughout the week for other news, trends, products, interviews and photos from the floor of the year’s largest gathering in the homebuilding industry.

The end of 2009 brought many encouraging signals for the building and remodeling industries.

• Existing home sales hit their highest monthly level in almost three years
• Spending on remodeling and home improvements surged 8.7% in October
• New home inventories were cut in half between January and October
• Existing home inventories also were down sharply
• The S&P/Case-Shiller 10- and 20-city home price indexes logged four straight months of increases
• Industrial production, retail sales and GDP all posted multiple monthly increases

At Marvin, we saw strong demand for our Marvin and Integrity replacement products, assisted by the $1,500 federal energy efficiency tax credit.

While nobody doubts that there are still challenges ahead for the homebuilding industry, it’s been a great feeling in recent months to hear some positive news.

Image Credit: Concrete Forms via flickr.com