December 2, 2022
5 Things to Know: Week Ending December 10
An update on the Chicago lighting agent lawsuit. Some promising signs related to costs and logistics in 2023.
Here's a roundup of some of the week's happenings curated to help lighting people stay informed.
1. UPDATE: Force Partners v. KSA and Acuity Brands
The long saga of Chicago lighting agent, Force Partners’ lawsuit against rivals KSA Lighting & Controls and Acuity Brands reaches an important step next week. Mediation among all parties, aimed at settling the legal dispute, is scheduled for next Tuesday, December 13.
In October, we detailed the possibility of mediation and received a statement from KSA President, Jim Williams, which stated in part, ”…While mediation may be fruitful, we are fully prepared to aggressively litigate this lawsuit through trial to vindicate our position.”
Related: October lawsuit updates »
2. Southern Agent Merger
JD Martin, a manufacturers’ representative that spans fifteen states from Virginia to Florida to New Mexico and up to Montana, has added two more states to its large footprint while also filling in a noticeable gap on its coverage map by merging with Integrated Component Sales (ICS) in Georgia and Alabama.
JD Martin represents numerous industrial and supply lines. In some markets the agency represents Keystone Lighting, Dialight and FX Lighting. ICS has serves the industrial, OEM, MRO and municipal markets in seven Southeast U.S. with lines like ABB and Micron – but does not currently appear to represent any pure-play lighting brands.
3. Study examines impact of student debt on architecture profession
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) commissioned a study that examines student loan debt to gain a better understanding of how these challenges affect the profession and different architect demographic groups. Almost half of AIA members who borrowed money for college have considered leaving architecture or have already done so (44 percent).
4. Construction Materials Prices Down 1% in November, Still Up 40% Since February 2020
Construction input prices are up 11.9% from a year ago, while nonresidential construction input prices are 11.5% higher. Input prices were up in only four of the 11 subcategories on a monthly basis. Natural gas experienced the largest decrease in prices, falling 15.8% in November. Unprocessed energy prices declined 7.8%, while crude petroleum prices were down 2.3%.
5. Forecasts Call for Freight Rate Declines in 2023
Freight rates on sea, air, and highway routes are on track to drop from their pandemic highpoints during 2023, according to a trio of forecasts released this week.
Those three forecasts match an industry-wide report released on Tuesday that found a “severe rate of contraction” in transportation prices measured in November, according to the Logistics Managers’ Index (LMI).
