COVID-19

Big-box home improvement chain Tractor Supply Co. has reported record earnings for its second quarter, which ended June 26. The company’s net sales for the second quarter stood at $3.6 billion, up more than 13 percent from the same period …

Starting July 15, U.S. households with children will begin receiving monthly payments for each child in the household. Part of the American Rescue Plan, the child tax credits will put money into the hands of low and middle-income families to …

As retailers head into the second half of 2021, National Retail Federation (NRF) chief economist Jack Kleinhenz says the great uncertainty clouding the nation’s economic outlook earlier in the year has transformed into evidence of a recovery from the COVID-19 …

It’s no secret that building materials are in short supply and the price of lumber and other supplies has increased significantly. In May 2021, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) surveyed builders in its annual Housing Market Index. Builders …

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released its Employed Situation for June 2021, which reported 850,000 jobs were added in June. The number of new jobs added exceeded the expectations of 720,000 and is well above May’s gains of 583,000.  …

The National Retail Federation (NRF) is upwardly revising its estimate on how much consumers will spend across retail sectors in 2021. The organization’s new estimate now stands at $4.4 trillion, and the NRF expects sales to grow between 10.5 and …

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the economy added 559,000 jobs in May, reducing the national unemployment rate to 5.8 percent. Notable job gains happened in public and private education, hospitality and health care. Take a deeper dive …

After a year of record sales and renewed interest in the home improvement channel, take a moment to review some of the latest industry data to better understand your DIY and pro customers. The Farnsworth Group has released new research …