Universal Forest Products Inc. (Nasdaq: UFPI), Grand Rapids, MI, reported sales for the first quarter of $846.1 million, up 24 percent over the same period a year ago. Profit increased 9.6 percent to $21 million.
First quarter sales in the company’s retail ($311.8 million) and industrial ($277.2 million) businesses improved year-over-year, with increases of 15 percent and 37 percent, respectively. Sales for the construction ($267.8 million) business increased 21 percent