Among economic headwinds, global conflict and elevated inflation, financial results for the first quarter of 2026 were across the board for top names in the corporate retail world. A majority of companies reported positive results in the quarter, demonstrating resilience …
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Real GDP growth accelerated in the first quarter of 2026, rebounding from a weak end of 2025, as government spending recovered following a disruptive shutdown, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). First-quarter growth was also supported by …
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Residential building material price growth accelerated in February after slowing a month prior, according to the latest Producer Price Index release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The Producer Price Index for final demand increased 0.7% in February, a …
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By Steve Payne, Editor-in-Chief, Hardlines Inc. The health of the retail hardware and home improvement industry in Canada had its ups and downs both during and following the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, industry sales declined by 3.7%, and in 2024 …
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Market Measure Evolution As you dive into this year’s Market Measure report, things might look a bit different than they have in the past, particularly when you browse the size of market numbers and the market breakdown. The numbers themselves …
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The unemployment rate rose to its four-year high of 4.6%, up from 4.4% year over year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Positively, employers added 64,000 jobs in November. Household survey data for October 2025 were not collected …
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Retail sales saw strong year-over-year growth in November, with the first half of the month posting results on track to meet the National Retail Federation’s spending forecast, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor. “Retail sales showed healthy year-over-year gains in November …
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Independent retailers are coming into 2026 with a cooling renovation market and a cost-sensitive customer with a shift toward DIY. Dave King, executive director of the Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI), says those pressures hit independent retailers differently than big-box …
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