Paint & Decorating Retailer

The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by a vote of 9-3, a smaller margin than typically seen. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), the panel of Federal Reserve officials responsible for setting monetary policies, dropped the interest rate range to 3.5% to 3.75%, a 0.25% reduction. Available indicators suggest that economic activity has been expanding …

Pittsburgh Paints Company launched Pittsburgh Paints Anti-Scuff™ Interior Zero VOC paint, a new product that has scuff resistance for high-traffic areas in commercial and residential spaces. The new product is the first in the industry. “Our data from competitor testing and side-by-side comparisons proves that Pittsburgh Paints Anti-Scuff paint is in a league of its …

Combining AI chat, task management and operations analytics—tied directly to a retailers POS inventory—FastQuery is an AI copilot built for independent home improvement retailers. FastQuery helps store associates quickly find product information like aisle numbers, price and comparable items using voice commands and manages and routes tasks automatically, reducing the time employees spend searching for information, …

Year-over-year declines in import cargo volume seen at the nation’s major container ports in recent months are expected to continue in 2026, according to the Global Port Tracker report recently released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates. “Stores are stocked up and ready for a record holiday season but there is still …

A new paint recycling program began in Illinois on Dec. 1, 2025, enabling households and businesses to recycle leftover paint, stain and varnish conveniently and sustainably. The program is operated by PaintCare, a nonprofit organization created by paint companies through the American Coatings Association (ACA) to manage leftover paint in states that have enacted paint …

The Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI) released the Quarterly Homeowner Project Activity Tracker Q3 2025, detailing homeowners’ attitudes and motivations driving home improvement initiatives, purchasing patterns and future home improvement activity. Here are some fast facts from the study:  Home improvement activity peaked for the year in the third quarter: 84% of respondents completed routine …

Clark+Kensington, a paint line exclusively available at Ace Hardware, recently revealed its new Enchantedly Bold palette, featuring pink and green shades, aligning with the release of the highly-anticipated movie, Wicked: For Good. The palette features four shades: Pure Pink, a bubblegum pink shade; Emerald Cliffs, a muted emerald green; Ominous Clouds, a warm grey; and …

Thanksgiving weekend brought in a record 202.9 million consumers during the five-day holiday weekend from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday, according to the annual consumer survey released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Prosper Insights & Analytics.  “Thanksgiving weekend is an important time for families and friends to come together, and holiday shopping plays a …

Aggregate residential building material prices rose at the fastest pace since January 2023, according to the latest Producer Price Index from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Producer Price Index for final demand increased 0.3% in September after falling 0.1% in August. The index for final demand goods increased 0.9% in September. Final demand energy …

Private residential construction spending increased by 0.8% in August, primarily driven by more spending on multifamily construction and home remodeling, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Total residential spending was down 2% year over year as the housing sector continues to navigate the economic uncertainty amid ongoing tariff concerns and high mortgage …

RX today announced the debut of DIY CON, a first-of-its-kind immersive event celebrating the creativity, confidence and community of modern DIYers. Coming to Dallas Nov. 6-8, 2026, DIY CON will bring together makers, dreamers and doers of all skill levels for three days of hands-on workshops, immersive experiences, interactive brand storytelling and a place for …

A record 186.9 million customers are expected to shop from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday this year, according to a survey released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Prosper Insights & Analytics. “The holidays are an important part of many consumers’ budgets, and that trend is especially true this season,” says Katherine Cullen, NRF …

Existing home sales rose in October to the highest rate in eight months as buyers took advantage of lower mortgage rates, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and an analysis from NAHB’s Eye on Housing. Mortgage rates hovered between 6.5% and 7% at the beginning of 2025 due to economic and tariff uncertainty, …

Interior Acrylic Paint (SPONSORED) Regal® Select is the interior paint with the durability and washability to stand up to everyday wear and tear with: Unbeatable flow and leveling for professional results every time Proprietary stain release technology to easily clean stains and scuffs Excellent hide and fast-drying coverage for completing projects faster, even The post …

ProBlock® announced it is launching as a dedicated primer brand at Sherwin-Williams and Lowe’s with its new ProBlock Quick Dry primer products. “Sherwin-Williams has been a trusted name in paints and coatings for more than 150 years, and with ProBlock, we’re bringing that same quality to a dedicated primer brand that is accessible, affordable and highly …

Informed by customer feedback and a sharp focus on today’s retail challenges, the National Hardware Show is undergoing the most significant evolution in its 80-plus year history. In 2026, it will debut NHS Concept to Commerce—a completely reimagined event built to streamline every stage of the go-to market process. Hardware Retailing sat down with Joelle Cohn, VIP attendee …

A new year always brings new trends and design preferences in the home improvement and decorating space, allowing the opportunity to refresh your interior design inventory. According to Houzz, elegant, handcrafted and eclectic furniture are expected to dominate the furniture scene in 2026, with homeowners leaning into personality when making design choices. Paint and Decorating …

Benjamin Moore’s Silhouette, a charcoal color with espresso undertones, as its 2026 Color of the Year. As customers come to your stores looking for advice on color trends, Paint & Decorating Retailer has compiled four alternatives to Silhouette to help keep your customers on-trend. Dunn-Edwards’ Charcoal Smudge is a dark, charcoal gray with subtle green …

The U.S. government is set to reopen after the 43-day shutdown, the longest in U.S. history.  President Donald Trump signed a government funding bill after the House passed the measure on a vote of 222-209. The shutdown caused financial stress for federal workers who went without pay and affected various other areas of the country, …

The Sherwin-Williams Company announced that its board of directors has elected Benjamin E. Meisenzahl to serve as the company’s chief financial officer, effective January 1, 2026. Meisenzahl has served as the company’s senior vice president of finance for the last two and a half years and brings over 22 years of overall experience at Sherwin-Williams …

James Hardie Building Products Inc. recently announced its 2026 Color of the Year, Iron Gray, a rich, neutral shade offering a monochromatic statement. “Color has the power to amplify a home’s architectural voice,” says Samara Toole, chief marketing officer of James Hardie. “With Iron Gray, we wanted a color that is expressive yet grounded, one …

Quickly moving from nice-to-have to must-have, social media provides an avenue to not only promote your business but also engage with customers in meaningful ways. The stats speak loudly to the importance of social media for reaching customers, especially in the home improvement channel. According to the Home Improvement Research Institute’s Homeowner Social Media Influence …

Using propriety data, Numerator helps companies understand their customers and identify growth opportunities by providing more visibility into more consumers across more channels. In its The Income Divide: Implications for the Home Improvement Sector report, Numerator shares how the income divide between homebuyers is impacting the home improvement industry. Paint & Decorating Retailer sat down with …

Retail sales grew in October, showing monthly and year-over-year gains heading into the holiday shopping season, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor. “Retail sales grew in October as consumers geared up for the holiday season,” says NRF president and CEO Matthew Shay. “Recent economic data has been mixed, yet consumer spending remains solid—supported by wage …