Since March, The Farnsworth Group and the Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI) have collected data on DIYers’ and contractors’ home improvement sentiments during COVID-19. The complete report for the organizations’ Weekly COVID-19 Tracker reveals home improvement is on the minds …
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U.S. Unemployment Rate Falls to 13.3% in May
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released a report Friday showing the U.S. economy gained 2.5 million jobs in May, bringing the U.S. unemployment rate to 13.3 percent for the month, lower than April’s unemployment rate of 14.7 percent. Friday’s …
Read More »Resources for Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness
As a part of the CARES Act, small businesses across the U.S. were able to apply for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans to help stabilize their businesses amid COVID-19. Since the program’s start, more than 4 million loans have been …
Read More »Canadian Headlines for Retailers: May 18
Hardlines is keeping Canadian retailers informed on the ways COVID-19 is impacting their home improvement stores. Check back each week for an update on the latest headlines affecting home improvement retail in Canada. How Provinces Plan to Reopen A sense that …
Read More »U.S. Unemployment Rate Hits 14.7%
The U.S. economy lost 20.5 million jobs in April, as many businesses either curtailed service or closed their doors indefinitely amid COVID-19. The decline in jobs is the largest since the government began recording employment data in 1939, reports CNN. …
Read More »NRF Issues Guidance for Retailers as COVID-19 Restrictions Ease
The National Retail Federation has released guidance for all retailers as cities, states and provinces begin to relax some COVID-19 restrictions. Called Operation Open Doors, the plan offers helpful insight into how to implement safe social distancing protocols and how …
Read More »NRHA Invites Retailers to 2nd Virtual Town Hall
The North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) is inviting independent retailers across North America to its second virtual town hall. This special session with NRHA representatives, retailers and channel partners will focus on how retailers are preparing their businesses for …
Read More »U.S. Unemployment Grows by 30M in 6 Weeks
More than 3.5 million people filed for unemployment insurance the week ending April 25, according to new data from the U.S. Department of Labor. Since the middle of March, more than 30.3 million Americans, roughly 18 percent of the U.S. …
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