It’s Week 5 for APC’s COVID Survey, tracking the impact of the pandemic on painting. Thanks to readers like you completing our survey, we’re able to report where contractors are finding work. In addition, you’re providing valuable data on purchasing, materials and even mindset. So after reviewing the data below from week 5 (collected between April 16-22), be sure to complete our new survey here.

For the second week in a row, the education sector is cited as the best performing. On the other end of the spectrum, Residential Interior continues to be the worst performing sector (not surprisingly). And in a sign that business continues to constrict, only 3 sectors are now registering as increasing or holding steady more than decreasing. On a positive note, some sectors appear to be rebounding a bit – restaurant, hotel and multi-family interior work showed significantly better numbers than last week.

Sector............................... Increase/No Change....................Decrease

School Jobs........................... 56%............................................. 44%

New Construction Resid......... 52%............................................. 48%

Gov’t Jobs............................. 51%............................................. 49%

Other Commercial.................. 49%............................................. 51%

Resid. Exterior....................... 48%............................................. 52%

Retail Jobs.............................. 47%............................................. 53%

Multi-Family Ext..................... 46%............................................. 54%

New Construction Comm....... 44%............................................. 56%

Healthcare Jobs..................... 44%............................................. 56%

Restaurant Jobs.................... 42%............................................. 58%

Multi-Family Interior............. 38%............................................. 62%

Hotel Jobs............................. 34%............................................. 66%

Entertainment Jobs................ 31%............................................. 69%

Res. Interior........................... 25%............................................. 75%

Reading these results, one takeaway can certainly be that work is slowing. However, another clear takeaway is that work continues. The overwhelming majority of contractors continue to work…and continue to purchase. Here’s what contractors report they are buying (or in one case, not buying).

Top Product Categories Contractors Are Buying

1. No Change (buying all categories)

2. Cleaning/Disinfecting

3. PPE

4. Not Buying

Remember, help us keep this going…by completing this week’s survey here!