This reduction primarily was the result of lower sales, reduced production levels and higher raw material costs in the Mohawk segment, the company says. Additionally, the Mohawk segment had one less day and the Dal-Tile segment had two less days in the first quarter of 2003 compared to 2002.

Net sales for the quarter increased 25 percent to $1,084,715,000 compared to $866,710,000 for the first quarter of 2002. The net sales increase was attributable to the Dal-Tile acquisition. The first quarter of 2002 included Dal-Tile results for only the seven business days after the acquisition closed on March 20, 2002.

The Mohawk segment net sales of $808,111,000 decreased 4 percent and the Dal-Tile segment net sales of $276,604,000 increased 5 percent during the quarter. On a proforma basis using the same number of days in first quarter of 2003 and 2002, the total company sales were flat, the Mohawk segment decreased 2 percent and the Dal-Tile segment increased 8 percent. The Dal-Tile net sales increase resulted primarily from growth in residential products.