Paint & Decorating Retailer

Import cargo volume at the nation’s major container ports is forecast to see a month-over-month gain in January, the first gain in six months. The ports are still expected to remain down year over year, according to the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) Global Port Tracker. “There should be a brief bump in imports this month …

The U.S. economy added 50,000 jobs in December and the unemployment rate was reported at 4.4% for the month, marking little change from the previous month, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Overall, 584,000 jobs were added in 2025, putting last year on the list of poorest year for job creation since …

Builders have faced significant challenges in recent months with elevated mortgage rates and high construction costs, according to the latest residential housing market report and an analysis by the National Association of Home Builders. Overall housing starts dropped to a 4.6% annual seasonally adjusted rate in October to 1.25 million units, according to the U.S. …

The start of a new year is a time for the industry to look back on successes and challenges from the past year and anticipate new opportunities for the year ahead. Paint & Decorating Retailer recently spoke with Dennis Karnstein, commercial president and general manager of the Pittsburgh Paints Company, about his outlook on the …

Consumer confidence fell in December to the lowest level since April’s tariff implementation, reflecting concerns about increasing inflation and a weak labor market, according to an analysis by the National Association of Home Builders’ Eye on Housing. The labor market differential, which measured the gap  between consumers viewing jobs as plentiful and hard-to-get, continued to …

At the end of December 2025, long-term mortgage rates were at the lowest level since September 2024, continuing the steady decline seen since mid-2025.  The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.19% in December, 5 basis points (bps) lower than November, while the 15-year rate declined 3 bps to 5.48%, according to Freddie Mac. Compared to a …

President Donald Trump has announced a proclamation to delay increases on tariffs for upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets and vanities until Jan. 1, 2027, invoking Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. In October, the White House imposed a 25% tariff on kitchen cabinets, furniture and vanities, with tariffs on furniture set to increase …

According to the March 2025 Employment Situation Summary from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the women’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 57.5% with women now representing almost half (47%) of the total U.S. labor force. Prime-aged women, or women aged 25 to 54, represent a significant and growing portion of the U.S. …

As it continually strives to make independent home improvement retailers better and more profitable, the North American Hardware and Paint Association (NHPA) is leaning into technology to bring efficient and time-saving training offerings to the channel.  The new RetailWise program delivers fast, high-impact two-minute training videos developed with artificial intelligence that are designed to strengthen …

With the uncertainties of 2025 in the rearview, independent paint retailers are heading into 2026 looking for any ways to face the potential headwinds the new year may bring. One way retailers can start the year strong is by attending spring markets to take advantage of deals and special pricing terms and find new products …

While paint tools and accessories are a broad category with a large number of items that could fall under that department in a store, it’s important to utilize smart merchandising so customers can find the products and information they need and you can better manage inventory. Thoughtful merchandising also makes a store look fully stocked, …

In mid-December the Federal Reserve took measures to lower interest rates for the third time in 2025, by an additional quarter point, attempting to bring inflation rates back down to 2% long term and as insurance policy against a weakening labor market due to policy uncertainty and tariffs. In a press conference detailing the measure, …

Nonfarm payroll employment was largely unchanged across the U.S. on a monthly basis in September 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Eye on Housing. 29 states and the District of Columbia saw nonfarm payroll employment increases in September compared to August 2025, which saw …

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today that the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.2% on a seasonally adjusted basis over the 2 months from September 2025 to November 2025. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 2.7% before seasonal adjustment. BLS did not collect survey data …

Sam Taylor, a business expert at LLC.org, says small businesses underestimate how early holiday demand starts and how strongly people respond to anything nostalgic. He shares the five most common holiday mistakes small businesses make. Launching holiday campaigns too late. Most small businesses wait until December, while national chains start building anticipation weeks earlier. Using generic holiday …

The unemployment rate rose to its four-year high of 4.6%, up from 4.4% year over year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Positively, employers added 64,000 jobs in November. Household survey data for October 2025 were not collected due to the federal government shutdown. Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rate for teenagers …

Cabinet painting continues to be a steady category for independent paint retailers, driven by homeowners looking to update kitchens and baths without a full remodel. Stocking the right mix of coatings, prep tools and accessories helps stores support both DIY customers and professionals who want durable finishes and efficient workflows. From cabinet-specific paints to drying …

Supplier switching behavior is rising, especially among younger homeowners, according to the Quarterly Home Improvement Tracker, released by The Farnsworth Group. Gen Z are the most open demographic, with almost 50% saying they would try a new supplier, while only 1 in 10 Baby Boomers would. To grab those customers looking to make a change, …

Independent retailers come into 2026 with a cooling renovation market, a cost-sensitive customer with a shift toward DIY. Dave King, executive director of the Home Improvement Research Institute, says those pressures hit independent retailers differently than big-box chains because they have less pricing power when customers start shopping harder for value.  King says the slowdown …

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Builder confidence inched higher to end the year but remains well into negative territory as builders continue to grapple with rising construction costs, tariffs and economic uncertainty, and as many potential buyers remain on the sidelines due to affordability concerns. Builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes rose one point to 39 …

Around 158.9 million consumers plan to shop on the last Saturday before Christmas, according to the annual survey released by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics. The number is up from 157.2 million shoppers in 2024, and surpasses the previous record of 158.5 million in 2022. “As the final Saturday before Dec. 25, …

Retail sales saw strong year-over-year growth in November, with the first half of the month posting results on track to meet the National Retail Federation’s spending forecast, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor. “Retail sales showed healthy year-over-year gains in November while month-over-month data was largely flat,” says Matthew Shay, NRF President and CEO. “Shoppers looking …

PPG announced that Todd M. Schneider, president and chief executive officer of Cintas, has been elected to join PPG’s board of directors, effective Jan. 14, 2026. Schneider will serve on the nominating and governance and sustainability and innovation committees of PPG’s board. “PPG’s board of directors continuously seeks to strengthen its experience and membership to …