Market Insights

The Pending Home Sales Index for July declined 1.3% to 109.5 as higher mortgage rates dampened enthusiasm for home buyers, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

The NAR's Chief Economist Lawrence Yun didn't seem concerned by what he called a "modest decline in sales." 

The Pending Home Sales Index is a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings. The index has remained above year-ago levels for 27 consecutive months.

Chicago -- The difficult task of looking into the future from the vantage point of a Wall Street investor -- and sharing that view with home improvement researchers -- fell upon Joshua Rosenbaum, of UBS.

And the key to the future, he said, is jobs.

The world's largest home improvement retailer lays out an ambitious three-year plan.

The article "Home Depot drops Paula Deen" generated several reader comments.

Support your local lumberyard is a slogan, a simple idea, and a 21st century recruitment strategy.

With California’s controversial “lumber assessment” now being assessed on most lumber products sold in the state under so-called “emergency” regulations from the state’s tax collection agency, the State Board of Equalization (BOE), the next process for the state agency is to develop permanent rules including a permanent retailer set-up reimbursement.

Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes dipped by a single point in September to 14 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). The index has now held between 13 and 16 for six consecutive months.

The future will factor heavily in the education offered during the two-day HIRI Home Improvement Industry Summit to be held Oct. 19 to 20 in Chicago at the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza, including a presentation from Walker Smith, executive chairman of The Futures Co.