Consumer confidence improved for the third straight month, according to the Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index. The Index now stands at 81.4, up from 74.3 in May, bringing it to its highest level since January 2008 (Index 87.3). “Consumers are …
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Stock Building Supply Holdings files IPO
Stock Building Supply Holdings Inc. filed an initial public offering (IPO), with the goal of raising up to $175 million, according to Reuters. Stock Building Supply, which is based in North Carolina and operates in 13 states, is backed by …
Read More »House-Hasson Reports Increased Attendance at Dealer Market
Knoxville-based House-Hasson Hardware just concluded its dealer market in Sevierville, Tenn., and company officials are reporting marked increases in both vendor and retailer attendance for the event. The company is crediting the increased attendance in part to the decision to …
Read More »National Association of Realtors Says Housing Recovery is Strengthening
Existing-home sales improved in May and remain solidly above a year ago, while the median price continued to rise by double-digit rates from a year earlier, according to the National Association of Realtors. Total existing-home sales rose 4.2 percent to a seasonally …
Read More »Rona Inc. to Sell Commercial and Professional Market Division
Rona Inc., the largest Canadian distributor and retailer of hardware, renovation and gardening products, has entered into an agreement to sell its Commercial and Professional Market division specializing in plumbing, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to Talisker Plumbing Corporation, …
Read More »Group Merchandising Conference Highlights Continued Industry Optimism
Michael Parr, Cascade Wholesale Hardware, left, meets with Mark Marotto, Perfect Vision, at the 2013 GMC in Atlanta. Distributors affiliated with PRO Group, Inc. and Val-Test met with manufacturers during the Group Merchandising Conference, held June 17-19 at the Embassy …
Read More »SPONSORED: Scotts Plants Trees for Earth Day
In honor of Earth Day, Scotts is planting a tree for every purchase of Scotts MiracleGro during the month of July. There is nothing to it. Simply go to your local independent hardware store and buy bags of MiracleGro like …
Read More »Builder Confidence Surges in June
Builder confidence in the market for newly-built single-family homes surged eight points in June to a reading of 52 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) released today. Any reading higher than 50 indicates more …
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