Hardware Retailing The Industry's Source for Insights and Information
The Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI) recently released the HIRI Economic Industry Update for September 2026. The report aims to identify and evaluate key economic indicators and their influence on the home improvement market, examine housing market trends and investigate changes in consumer behavior and spending patterns on home improvement and renovations projects.
According to the update, HIRI forecasts 2.6% growth for the U.S. home improvement products market in 2026, accelerating to an average 3.8% a year from 2027 to 2029. Additionally, construction employment jumped 340% from June to July despite the overall economy losing 23,000 jobs in July. HIRI also found that consumer home improvement spending is projected to grow faster than professional spending in 2026, a reversal from 2025. Consumer spending fell 1.7% in 2025 but is projected to bounce back 3.7% in 2026, while professional spending surged in 2025 to 6.9% but is expected to drop to 1.0% in 2026.
To read the full update, become a HIRI member here.
