Plumbing wholesale prices barely budged in March
A plumbing fixture-specific ‘producer price index’ (PPI) grew just 0.4 percent from February, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Plumbing
7 HVAC and plumbing contractor videos that went viral
A roundup of seven clips, posted by HVAC and plumbing contractors, that have garnered over one million views
To boost the plumbing workforce, ease licensing rules, some say
In St. Louis, where regulations currently require a one-to-one ratio of apprentices to licensed journeyman plumbers, some contractors are pushing to loosen the ratio to five apprentices per journeyman
Residential water heater shipments fall in February
Year-to-date, shipments of gas water heaters are down 10.4 percent compared to the same period in 2025, and electric shipments are down 7.9 percent
Lowe’s boosts skilled trades investment to $250 million
The Lowe’s Foundation on Tuesday pledged $250 million to train 250,000 workers by 2035
Roto-Rooter snaps up two franchises for $20.6 million
The Roto-Rooter corporate entity has been acquiring franchises to “boost productivity, market share, and profitability”
Insurers should foot the bill for smart water devices, white paper suggests
Sales of smart water devices “represent a revenue opportunity of more than $160 million by 2030,” according to the paper
National Careers in Trades Week kicks off
A January survey of 500 college and high school students found that 75 percent of teens aged 13 to 18 would consider a trade job over going to college
Trump’s push for 1 million new apprentices is off to a rocky start, critics say
In April 2025, President Trump directed three cabinet secretaries to deliver — within 120 days — a plan “to reach and surpass 1 million new active apprentices”
March’s most popular stories
A price-fixing lawsuit, rebates on the chopping block, industry chatter, and more