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 …
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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 …
Read More »Housing Starts Up 6.8 Percent in May
Nationwide housing starts rose 6.8 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 914,000 units in May due primarily to increased production of multi-family homes, according to released data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the …
Read More »Orchard Supply Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy; Lowe’s Agrees to Buy Assets
Lowe’s has agreed to buy Orchard Supply Hardware for approximately $205 million on the same day Orchard Supply filed a petition for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The purchase agreement would enable Lowe’s to expand through a new store format and reach …
Read More »True Value Launches Discover Credit Card Program
True Value recently introduced the True Value Discover® credit card program for True Value retailers and customers in the United States. The program connects retailers to consumers with new offerings that pass financial benefits and incentives along to the consumer …
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