Trends in home renovations have contributed to recent growth in the number of new retail jobs in the U.S., the Chicago Tribune reports. “Building-material stores hired more than 10,000 workers in February to keep up with booming demand,” the news …
Read More »Tag Archives: economy
Fourth-Quarter 2017 Shows Uptick for Economy
The year 2017 ended on a positive note for the U.S. economy, with fourth-quarter results showing growth in consumer confidence and in the housing and manufacturing sectors. The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), which is the only leading economic indicator included …
Read More »NFIB Event Shines Spotlight on Small Business
The Indiana arm of National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) hosted its 2018 Small Business Day at the Capitol event in Indianapolis on Feb. 21. The event drew NFIB members from across the state to hear economic analysis, an overview …
Read More »Tariffs Imposed on Solar Panels, Washing Machines
On Jan. 22, the Trump administration announced tariffs on imports of solar panels and washing machines as part of the administration’s focus on “America First,” The Wall Street Journal reports. According to the article, the tariffs were imposed in an …
Read More »Comeback Plan: How 2 Retailers Took Their Stores From Bust to Boom
Click the image above to view a full PDF. Many entrepreneurs setting out to buy a business look for one that’s healthy, where risks are minimal and the probability for success is high. It’s a good, safe bet few would argue …
Read More »PMI, Consumer Confidence Make Gains
Click the image above to view a full PDF. The nation’s third-quarter 2017 consumer confidence levels rose nearly 20 percent over third-quarter 2016, indicating that consumers feel confident about the overall economy. Some regions ravaged by hurricanes showed measurable consumer …
Read More »The Economy: Hurricanes and Home Improvement
Jack Kleinhenz is chief economist for the National Retail Federation (NRF), the world’s largest retail trade association. Formerly with the Federal Reserve Bank in Cleveland, Kleinhenz is a contributing forecaster to The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, the Federal Reserve Bank …
Read More »Checking the Foundation of the 2017 Housing Market
Solid demand and steadily increasing home prices have been two of the biggest housing headlines in 2017. To learn more about housing trends this year and predictions going into 2018, Hardware Retailing spoke with George Ratiu, director of quantitative and commercial …
Read More »