The market research institute Interconnection Consulting (IC) expects flooring markets to experience only a minor recovery this year in the important European countries of Germany, France, the Benelux region, the UK, Italy and Spain. In a new study, IC predicts a rise of just 0.6% in volumes to 655.3m m². IC forecast that the value of flooring sales would improve 0.9% to €15.188bn this year. Looking ahead to 2013, the IC study raises the prospect of sales of 665.0m m² with a value of €15.443bn. 2014 is expected to bring a quantity of 677.2m m² with a value of €15.760bn.