Lowe’s recently held its third annual AI Day and a 24-Hour Hackathon, an event where over 600 Lowe’s associates from across the business signed up to learn about and solve problems with artificial intelligence. Tech teams tackled case studies sourced from …
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Retail Spending Surges in July
Retail spending increased in July as consumers sought out summer sales to purchase goods before additional tariffs take effect, according to the National Retail Federation’s CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor. July sales in the building and garden supplies sector increased 1.32% seasonally …
Read More »Credit Card Swipe Fee Ruling Overturned
A U.S. judge from North Dakota has vacated the Federal Reserve’s credit card swipe fee regulation that capped the amount banks can charge merchants for processing transactions. The ruling says swipe fees set by the Federal Reserve set the cap …
Read More »HIRI Reports Dip in Market Growth Optimism, Rise in Tariff Concerns Among Contractors
The Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI) released the Quarterly Contractor Business Tracker Q2 2025 report, evaluating how macroeconomic trends affect contractors’ operations and strategic decision-making. The report noted a dip in market growth optimism, with only 55% of respondents anticipating …
Read More »Research Reveals America’s Housing Supply Crisis
The American housing market is facing a persistent shortage with home prices reaching record highs as affordability has decreased, according to an analysis by the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Eye on Housing. New home construction has not kept …
Read More »Houzz Report Reveals Rise of AI Adoption in Construction and Design
Houzz Inc. recently released the first-ever 2025 U.S. Houzz State of AI in Construction and Design Report, providing a comprehensive view into the industry’s reaction to the rapidly evolving AI landscape. The report surveyed over 700 construction and design professionals, …
Read More »PPG Releases Q2 2025 Financial Results
PPG Industries Inc. recently released its financial results for the second quarter of 2025. Net sales in Q2 decreased 1% year over year to $4.2 billion, primarily due to business divestitures. Net income decreased 9% from Q2 2024, down to …
Read More »What You Need to Know in August
HIRI Cuts 2025 Home Improvement Growth Forecast The Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI) revised its 2025 growth forecast downward to 3.4% from 5%, as the $574.3 billion home improvement market faces sustained economic headwinds, including rising costs, tariffs and housing …
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