The economic slowdown has taken its toll on paint makers serving the exterior decorative coatings market. With fewer new homes and buildings under construction, the number of gallons of paint sold in key mature markets has fallen. To make matters more difficult paint makers are also plagued with high raw material costs. While they have stabilized a bit of late, the increases have far outpaced manufacturers ability to pass them along to customers. Increasing energy prices and ever more stringent environmental regulations are also challenges.
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