Market Insights

The unemployment rate declined to 5.3% in June from 5.5% in May

Indianapolis-based Angie’s List systematically asked more than 1,000 service providers about business in the coming year.

The response: business is getting better.

The stocks had a strong showing at the close of Thursday; all but two saw an increase.

Joshua Rosenbaum, managing director of the global industrial group for UBS, will lead an economic discussion at the upcoming Home Improvement Research Institute conference.

His presentation is titled: "A Wall Street View of the Home Improvement Market and Trends."

The U.S. Census Bureau reported retail trade sales increased 0.6% in June, compared May.

Sales were up 6.0% when compared to June 2012.

The figures were released Monday morning and are adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes.  The figures exclude automobiles, gas stations and restaurants. 

Total spending for Halloween is expected to reach an all-time high this year in the survey’s history.

The following letters were in response to an article about reform of the EPA’s Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule.

Lead paint rule and the opt-out provision:

More than 2,000 professionals participated in the Houzz Renovation Barometer survey.