According to a proprietary model recently developed and released by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), the construction industry needs to attract an estimated 349,000 net new workers in 2026 to meet demand for construction services. In 2027, the industry will …
Read More »Annie Dameworth
Remodeling Market Strength Continues Despite Economic Headwinds
In Q3 of 2025, the NAHB/Westlake Royal Remodeling Index (RMI) posted a reading of 64, increasing four points from Q2. While reasonably strong market conditions exist for most remodelers, the industry is continuing to experience rising costs and potential customer …
Read More »Jeske Hardware Distributors Adds New Account Manager
Jeske Hardware Distributors recently announced Jake Sitarz as a new account manager for the company’s Minnesota and Northern Iowa sales territory. “At Jeske, we want to be more than just another distributor for our customers,” says Ray Powell, national sales …
Read More »In Memoriam: Former NHPA Board Member Tom Green
Former board president of the North American Hardware and Paint Association (NHPA) Thomas (Tom) Green, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, just two days after celebrating his 86th birthday. In 1972, Tom purchased Mayer Hardware in Rochester, New York, …
Read More »Residential Construction Material Prices Continue Upward Trend in November
Prices for residential building materials continue to soar, according to the latest Producer Price Index release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and an analysis by the National Association of Home Builders. Price growth has been above 3.0% since June, despite …
Read More »NRF Urges Congress to Pass Retail Crime Bill
The National Retail Federation (NRF) released a statement from David French, executive vice president of government relations, following the House Judiciary Committee’s markup of H.R. 2853, the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act. “ORC continues to be a multifaceted problem, afflicting …
Read More »The Home Depot Partners with Rilla for AI-Powered Coaching
Rilla, an AI-powered platform for field team performance, recently announced its new partnership with The Home Depot. Rilla will bring real-time coaching tools to Home Depot, enabling service and sales professionals to coach and develop their teams more effectively by …
Read More »December Inflation Holds Steady
Inflation held steady in December, matching November’s reading, according to the latest report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This report was the first to include a month-to-month figure since the government shutdown, but data distortions from the shutdown …
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