{
  "title": "U.S. Paint & Coatings Industry Statistics 2026",
  "publisher": "Carolina Renew Painting & Finishes",
  "url": "https://carolinarenew.com/paint-industry-statistics-2026/",
  "verifiedOn": "2026-09-09",
  "license": "Cite with attribution and a link to the dataset URL.",
  "rows": [
    {
      "id": "census-aca-shipments-2023",
      "metric": "U.S. paint and coatings product shipments value (NAICS 325510)",
      "value": "$31.5 billion (2023)",
      "entity": "U.S. paint and coating manufacturers",
      "source": "American Coatings Association, \"FACTs About the Paint & Coatings Industry: Economic Contributions\" (citing U.S. Census Bureau Annual Survey of Manufactures)",
      "sourceDate": "April 2025 (data year 2023)",
      "url": "https://www.paint.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2025/04/Economic-Contributions_April-2025.pdf",
      "quote": "Product shipments by U.S. paint and coatings producers totaled $31.5 billion in 2023. ... Source: U.S. Census Bureau's Annual Survey of Manufactures.",
      "confidence": "High",
      "scope": "NAICS 325510, Paint and Coating Manufacturing, national total; 2023 is the most recent year Census has published this breakout"
    },
    {
      "id": "chemquest-market-2025",
      "metric": "U.S. paint and coatings market, 2025 — 1.33 billion gallons valued at $34.1 billion (ChemQuest estimate published via ACA; volume −1.1%, value +0.6% vs 2024)",
      "value": "1.33 billion gallons / $34.1 billion (2025)",
      "entity": "U.S. paint and coatings industry (all segments)",
      "source": "PCI Magazine, reporting ChemQuest Corp. estimates published via American Coatings Association channels",
      "sourceDate": "August 29, 2026",
      "url": "https://www.pcimag.com/articles/115114-chemquest-forecasts-353b-us-coatings-market-in-2026",
      "quote": "ChemQuest estimates that the industry produced 1.33 billion gallons valued at $34.1 billion in 2025",
      "confidence": "Med",
      "scope": "Total U.S. coatings market (architectural + industrial/OEM + special-purpose); market-research estimate, not an official Census/ACA production count"
    },
    {
      "id": "chemquest-market-2026f",
      "metric": "U.S. paint and coatings market forecast for 2026 — about 1.33 billion gallons valued at $35.3 billion (ChemQuest estimate published via ACA; forecast, not measured)",
      "value": "~1.33 billion gallons / $35.3 billion (2026 forecast)",
      "entity": "U.S. paint and coatings industry (all segments)",
      "source": "PCI Magazine, reporting ChemQuest Corp. forecast",
      "sourceDate": "August 29, 2026",
      "url": "https://www.pcimag.com/articles/115114-chemquest-forecasts-353b-us-coatings-market-in-2026",
      "quote": "The U.S. paint and coatings market is expected to produce approximately 1.33 billion gallons valued at $35.3 billion in 2026",
      "confidence": "Med",
      "scope": "Forecast"
    },
    {
      "id": "chemquest-segments-2026f",
      "metric": "2026 forecast by segment — industrial OEM $10.7 billion on 372 million gallons; special-purpose $8.3 billion on 202 million gallons; architectural volume −0.3% and value +1.9% (ChemQuest via ACA; forecast)",
      "value": "$10.7B / $8.3B",
      "entity": "Market segments",
      "source": "PCI Magazine, reporting ChemQuest forecast",
      "sourceDate": "August 29, 2026",
      "url": "https://www.pcimag.com/articles/115114-chemquest-forecasts-353b-us-coatings-market-in-2026",
      "confidence": "Med",
      "scope": "Forecast",
      "quote": "Industrial OEM coatings are forecast to generate $10.7 billion in sales on 372 million gallons ... Special-purpose coatings are expected to increase 5.4% in value to $8.3 billion and 2.6% in volume to 202 million gallons ... architectural coatings volume will decline 0.3% in 2026, while value increases 1.9%."
    },
    {
      "id": "chemquest-market-2027f",
      "metric": "U.S. paint and coatings market forecast for 2027 — 1.36 billion gallons valued at $36.9 billion (ChemQuest via ACA; forecast)",
      "value": "$36.9B (2027F)",
      "entity": "Market size",
      "source": "PCI Magazine, reporting ChemQuest forecast",
      "sourceDate": "August 29, 2026",
      "url": "https://www.pcimag.com/articles/115114-chemquest-forecasts-353b-us-coatings-market-in-2026",
      "confidence": "Med",
      "scope": "Forecast",
      "quote": "ChemQuest forecasts faster growth in 2027, with volume increasing 2.2% to 1.36 billion gallons and value increasing 4.5% to $36.9 billion."
    },
    {
      "id": "bls-ppi-paint-wpu0623",
      "metric": "Producer Price Index, Allied and Miscellaneous Paint Products (WPU0623)",
      "value": "422.953(P) index (Jul 2026, NSA, Jun 1983=100, preliminary); +0.57% vs Jul 2025 (420.562)",
      "entity": "U.S. paint manufacturing sector (BLS commodity series WPU0623)",
      "source": "U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Producer Price Index, series WPU0623 (fetched via data.bls.gov and FRED, both citing BLS)",
      "sourceDate": "Data for July 2026 (marked preliminary '(P)'), extracted September 9, 2026",
      "url": "https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/WPU0623",
      "quote": "Table row '2025 ... 420.562 [Jul]' and table row '2026 ... 422.953(P) [Jul]' from the WPU0623 monthly data table on data.bls.gov (columns Jan–Dec).",
      "confidence": "High",
      "scope": "Commodity series WPU0623, Chemicals and Allied Products: Allied and Miscellaneous Paint Products; not seasonally adjusted"
    },
    {
      "id": "sherwin-williams-fy2025-revenue",
      "metric": "Sherwin-Williams consolidated net sales, full-year 2025 — $23.57 billion, up 2.1% (global, all segments)",
      "value": "$23.57 billion (up 2.1% YoY)",
      "entity": "The Sherwin-Williams Company",
      "source": "The Sherwin-Williams Company, 2025 Year-End and Fourth Quarter Financial Results press release",
      "sourceDate": "January 29, 2026",
      "url": "https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-sherwin-williams-company-reports-2025-year-end-and-fourth-quarter-financial-results-302673909.html",
      "quote": "Consolidated Net sales increased 2.1% in the year to $23.57 billion",
      "confidence": "High",
      "scope": "Company (global)"
    },
    {
      "id": "ppg-fy2025-net-sales",
      "metric": "PPG net sales, full-year 2025 — $15.9 billion ($15,875 million; global, all segments)",
      "value": "$15.9 billion ($15,875 million)",
      "entity": "PPG Industries, Inc.",
      "source": "PPG Industries, Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2025 Financial Results press release",
      "sourceDate": "January 27, 2026",
      "url": "https://investor.ppg.com/news/news-details/2026/PPG-reports-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-2025-financial-results/default.aspx",
      "quote": "Net sales of $15.9 billion ... Net sales $15,875 [million]",
      "confidence": "High",
      "scope": "Company (global)"
    },
    {
      "id": "epa-voc-flat-coatings",
      "metric": "Architectural coatings VOC content limit, flat coatings",
      "value": "250 g/L (2.1 lb/gal)",
      "entity": "EPA National VOC Emission Standards for Architectural Coatings, 40 CFR Part 59 Subpart D",
      "source": "U.S. EPA, \"Detailed Fact Sheet: Architectural Coating Rule for Volatile Organic Compounds\"",
      "sourceDate": "Rule published September 11, 1998 (63 FR 48848); fact sheet as fetched 2026",
      "url": "https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-11/documents/aim_coatings_detailed_factsheet.pdf",
      "quote": "Flat coatings: Exterior coatings 250 2.1 Interior coatings 250 2.1",
      "confidence": "High",
      "scope": "Federal national VOC content limit, g/L (lb/gal) minus water and exempt compounds, applies to manufacturers/importers"
    },
    {
      "id": "epa-voc-nonflat-coatings",
      "metric": "Architectural coatings VOC content limit, nonflat coatings",
      "value": "380 g/L (3.2 lb/gal)",
      "entity": "EPA National VOC Emission Standards for Architectural Coatings, 40 CFR Part 59 Subpart D",
      "source": "U.S. EPA, \"Detailed Fact Sheet: Architectural Coating Rule for Volatile Organic Compounds\"",
      "sourceDate": "Rule published September 11, 1998 (63 FR 48848); fact sheet as fetched 2026",
      "url": "https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-11/documents/aim_coatings_detailed_factsheet.pdf",
      "quote": "Nonflat coatings: Exterior coatings 380 3.2 Interior coatings 380 3.2",
      "confidence": "High",
      "scope": "Federal national VOC content limit, g/L (lb/gal) minus water and exempt compounds"
    },
    {
      "id": "paint-mfg-employment-2023",
      "metric": "Direct employment, paint and coating manufacturing",
      "value": "41,900 workers (2023)",
      "entity": "Paint and coating manufacturers (NAICS 325510)",
      "source": "American Coatings Association, \"FACTs About the Paint & Coatings Industry: Economic Contributions,\" citing BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW)",
      "sourceDate": "April 2025 (data year 2023)",
      "url": "https://www.paint.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2025/04/Economic-Contributions_April-2025.pdf",
      "quote": "Paint and coating manufacturers directly employed 41,900 people in 2023.",
      "confidence": "High",
      "scope": "NAICS 325510 only (manufacturing establishments); 2023 is the most recent year BLS QCEW data was available per this source. Brief's target series (BLS CES/QCEW NAICS 3255, the broader paint+coating+adhesive group) was not independently fetchable at a more current date."
    },
    {
      "id": "paint-industry-total-employment-2023",
      "metric": "Total U.S. paint and coatings industry employment (mfg + wholesale + retail + contractors)",
      "value": "312,000 workers (2023)",
      "entity": "U.S. paint and coatings industry, NAICS 325510 + 444120 + 424950 + 238320",
      "source": "American Coatings Association, \"FACTs About the Paint & Coatings Industry: Economic Contributions,\" citing BLS QCEW",
      "sourceDate": "April 2025 (data year 2023)",
      "url": "https://www.paint.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2025/04/Economic-Contributions_April-2025.pdf",
      "quote": "The U.S. paint and coatings industry employed 312,000 workers in 2023.",
      "confidence": "High",
      "scope": "Combined NAICS 325510 (paint/coating mfg), 444120 (paint/wallpaper stores), 424950 (paint/varnish/supplies wholesalers), 238320 (painting/wall covering contractors)"
    },
    {
      "id": "paint-establishments-2023",
      "metric": "Number of paint and coatings establishments",
      "value": "53,700 establishments (2023)",
      "entity": "U.S. paint and coatings industry",
      "source": "American Coatings Association, \"FACTs About the Paint & Coatings Industry: Economic Contributions,\" citing BLS QCEW",
      "sourceDate": "April 2025 (data year 2023)",
      "url": "https://www.paint.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2025/04/Economic-Contributions_April-2025.pdf",
      "quote": "In 2023, there were some 53,700 paint and coatings establishments in the United States.",
      "confidence": "High",
      "scope": "Same combined NAICS grouping as total employment figure (mfg + wholesale + retail + contractors)"
    },
    {
      "id": "paint-mfg-avg-wage-2023",
      "metric": "Average annual wage, paint and coatings manufacturing sector",
      "value": "$83,900 (2023)",
      "entity": "Paint and coating manufacturers (NAICS 325510)",
      "source": "American Coatings Association, \"FACTs About the Paint & Coatings Industry: Economic Contributions,\" citing BLS QCEW",
      "sourceDate": "April 2025 (data year 2023)",
      "url": "https://www.paint.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2025/04/Economic-Contributions_April-2025.pdf",
      "quote": "the highest average annual wage was paid by the paint and coatings manufacturing sector at $83,900 in 2023",
      "confidence": "High",
      "scope": "NAICS 325510 manufacturing workers only, vs. $61,300 industry-wide average across the four combined NAICS codes"
    },
    {
      "id": "paint-industry-payroll-2023",
      "metric": "Total payroll, U.S. paint and coatings industry",
      "value": "nearly $19.1 billion (2023)",
      "entity": "U.S. paint and coatings industry",
      "source": "American Coatings Association, \"FACTs About the Paint & Coatings Industry: Economic Contributions,\" citing BLS QCEW",
      "sourceDate": "April 2025 (data year 2023)",
      "url": "https://www.paint.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2025/04/Economic-Contributions_April-2025.pdf",
      "quote": "The payroll for the U.S. paint and coatings industry was nearly $19.1 billion in 2023.",
      "confidence": "High",
      "scope": "Same combined NAICS grouping (mfg + wholesale + retail + contractors)"
    }
  ],
  "gaps": [
    {
      "metric": "CPI for paint specifically",
      "why": "BLS CPI does not publish a paint-isolated line item; the closest published category, \"Tools, hardware, outdoor equipment and supplies,\" bundles paint with hardware/tools and does not isolate paint prices, so no authoritative isolated CPI figure exists to cite (per the brief's own caveat)."
    },
    {
      "metric": "Census Bureau NAICS 325510 shipments more recent than 2023, fetched directly from census.gov",
      "why": "data.census.gov's Annual Survey of Manufactures tables are a JavaScript-rendered app that our fetch tools could not read; the only fetchable figure was the 2023 total ($31.5B) as republished by ACA, which itself states 2023 is the most recent year Census has released this breakout, and that Census discontinued state-level paint/coating disaggregation in 2017."
    },
    {
      "metric": "Current (2024/2025) BLS QCEW or CES employment for NAICS 3255 (4-digit, paint+coating+adhesive) specifically",
      "why": "The brief's target series (NAICS 3255, broader than 325510) was not independently locatable via a valid BLS series ID or a fetchable QCEW/CES table in the time available; the only verified employment figure found (41,900, NAICS 325510 only) is from 2023 QCEW data via ACA's April 2025 publication, one NAICS level narrower and roughly 1.5 years stale."
    },
    {
      "metric": "ACA's own primary U.S. and Global Market Analysis report (gallons/dollars), directly from paint.org rather than third-party reporting",
      "why": "paint.org's \"U.S. and Global Market Analysis for the Paint and Coatings Industry\" appears to be a paid/member publication; only its underlying ChemQuest estimates as summarized by trade press (PCI Magazine) were fetchable in full text."
    }
  ]
}