Pool construction growth remains steady but more gradual than other remodeling trades, according to Metrostudy, the business intelligence arm of PSN owner Hanley Wood. It reported a count of 68,270 pools in 2016, up 12% from 2015. A higher boost is expected this year, with MetroStudy projecting 78,882 pools built, for a 15.5% hike. The company projects 108,723 pools in 2022, indicating continued growth, but still not reaching 2005’s peak of 187,346.
MetroStudy also calculates an index, something of a comparator and predictor to suggest how likely homeowners are to purchase pools. Numbers represent a comparison with the peak period of 2005, which is represented by 100. Numbers above or below 100 show the percentage of increase or decrease. As of April 1, Metrostudy assigned an index of 45, signifying that homeowners are 45 percent as likely to sign on the dotted line as they were in 2005. This shows significant stalling compared to other remodeling trades, many of which boasted indices between 115 and 120.
Metrostudy also ranked 381 metropolitan statistical areas, based on projected sales. Forecasts come from factors such as median income, housing prices and unemployment rates. Most of the top 10 came from Florida. They are: 1) Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, Fla.; 2) North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, Fla.; 3) Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla.; 4) Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, Fla.; 5) Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, Calif.; 6) Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, Fla.; 7) Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Fla.; 8) Panama City, Fla.; 9) Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas; 10) Jacksonville, Fla.
