COMMACK, NY - The U.S. market for paint and coatings rebounded with growth of 3.9% in 2003 and will continue to expand this year, hitting an estimated total dollar value of $18.2 billion, a newly issued industry study estimates.

"The 2004/2005 Outlook for the Paints and Coatings Industry" from Business Trend Analysts says demand for architectural coatings remained strong during most of the economic downturn of 2000-2002, although results within the segment are described as "quite mixed." The report says sales of OEM transportation finishes fell by 1.4% to an estimated $1.66 billion in 2003, with the decline attributed to the poor performance of the automotive segment.

The report tracks past, present, and projected sales to the year 2012 of various types of coatings, and also examines international trade activity, distribution channels, pricing dynamics, demand factors, advertising trends, industry economics, and recent company activities. The report also includes profiles of a number of major coatings manufacturers and addresses the areas of product development, mergers and acquisitions, marketing strategies, and financial performance.

The print version of the report is offered for $1,995 by Business Trend Analysts, Commack, NY, website www.bta-ler.com. CD-ROM and computer-disk versions are also offered.