Dallas, TX -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/01/2013 -- World demand for flooring and carpets is expected to increase approximately five percent annually to 18.6 billion square meters in 2016. This will be an improvement from the 2006-2011 rate, as countries rebound from the 2008 global economic crisis. In value terms, demand for floor coverings is projected to grow almost seven percent per year through 2016 to more than $250 billion. The primary driver of demand in developed areas will be rebounds in many countries’ residential construction markets (especially in the US). In developing regions, rising building construction expenditures will fortify demand, as will growing per capita incomes that allow households to afford more expensive floor coverings. Rising motor vehicle production in many areas will also boost overall demand for floor coverings.