October 6, 2026
Blog
Reputation Is the New Ranking in Home & Construction Discoverability
Your website traffic may be falling. That doesn't mean customers stopped researching. It means the research moved elsewhere.
October 2, 2026
Blog
Pro Forecast Revised Up, Consumer Forecast Revised Down in SOM Report
HIRI's September 2026 market forecast trimmed its outlook for 2026 growth by a tenth of a percentage point, from 2.6% to 2.5%. That is a small revision on its own, but it hides a real split between the two segments that make up the total, with the consumer segment revised down and the professional segment revised up. For home improvement manufacturers and retailers, which side of that split your business sits on matters more right now than the headline number does. This piece reads the HIRI's Q3 2026 U.S. Size of the Home Improvement Products Market Report and Forecast to explain what changed from June through September, what stayed the same, and what it means for how you plan.
September 21, 2026
Blog
What My Kids (and Utility Bill) Taught Me About Smart Home Tech
Somewhere in the chaos of raising two kids, I've become our household's de facto systems administrator. I check the thermostat schedule before bed. I glance outdoors to make sure our yard looks somewhat alive. And more than anything, I check the security cameras from my phone when I'm traveling, just to see that everything (and everyone) is fine. Convenience matters. So does the utility bill. But what actually keeps me coming back to smart home technology is peace of mind. Turns out, I'm not alone.
September 17, 2026
Blog
Pro Data: The Segmentation Edge
Generic Pro strategies aren't working Most brands have Pro data. Very few have Pro segmentation. A roofer, an electrician, a remodeler, and a landscaper all qualify as professional buyers. They may even shop at the same retailers. But treating them as one audience isn't an effective way to think about the market, and a top-line Pro number is what makes that an easy mistake to keep making.
September 15, 2026
Blog
Home Improvement Industry Update: Operating in a Flat Market
When faced with a flat market, as is currently the case for the home improvement industry in 2026, it can be more challenging for stakeholders, from manufacturers and retailers to contractors and distributors, to know how to achieve growth.
September 15, 2026
Blog
Datavations Pulse: HIRI Member Edition
Retailer-Level Intelligence Built for Building Products Your next merchant meeting is on the calendar. You know your category, you know your product, and you know your pitch. What you might not know is what happened at Lowe's last quarter while you were focused on Home Depot. Or that a competitor quietly picked up six months of momentum at Menards. That blind spot is what Pulse was built to close. And starting now, HIRI members get a version of Pulse that nobody else has access to.
September 9, 2026
Blog
Lawn & Garden Consumables: Market Shifts Below the Surface
The Lawn & Garden Consumables market is up modestly in 2026 with in-store sales across the top 5 retailers up +1.3% YTD. Share among the retailer set has remained relatively stable over the past 4-years.
September 8, 2026
Blog
What HIRI's August 2026 Economic Update Means for Home Improvement Manufacturers
Consumer spending grew 3.2% in the second quarter of 2026, the national job market lost 23,000 jobs, and contractors postponed more work than in any quarter at least since the second quarter of 2025. These three facts point in different directions at once, and for home improvement manufacturers and retailers, that tension is the real story of the third quarter. This piece reads HIRI's Economic and Industry Update Report for August 2026 alongside HIRI's Q2 2026 Homeowner Project Activity Tracker and Quarterly Contractor Business Sentiment Tracker to explain what is actually happening beneath the headline numbers, and what it means for how you plan the rest of the year.
August 25, 2026
Blog
3 Ways You Can Win Without Waiting for Interest Rates to Drop
In 2026, dollar growth in the home improvement products market is hiding a real decline. While the market is projected to grow roughly 2.6% in current dollars, it is actually contracting by about -1.4% when taking into account inflation.
August 25, 2026
Blog
How Inflation Is Hiding the Real Story in the Building Products Market
The home improvement market is in a complex state in 2026. In a nutshell, nominal spending has been growing, despite softer demand. However, that doesn’t capture the full story, where inflation is driving nominal growth but actually causing market contractions for both the professional and consumer segment.
August 21, 2026
Blog
3 Reasons Why Homeowners Are Delaying Home Improvement Projects in 2026
More than halfway through 2026, the home improvement industry is facing a confidence recession. Both homeowner and contractor sentiment has turned negative for the first time since the Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI) started quarterly tracking among each customer segment.
July 29, 2026
Blog
What HIRI's June 2026 Home Improvement Forecast Means to Manufacturers
Entering the second half of 2026, the home improvement industry is in a state of ambiguity. While many product categories are seeing higher dollar spend, this perceived growth is entirely driven by inflation. When inflation is taken into consideration, product growth is in decline across almost every major category.
July 24, 2026
Blog
Home Improvement Activity Shows Signs of Cooling in Q2 of 2026
Fewer homeowners are starting home improvement projects this quarter, but the ones who are moving forward are spending significantly more. Here's what HIRI's Q2 2026 Homeowner Project Activity Tracker reveals, and what it means for the home improvement industry.
July 17, 2026
Blog
7 Differences Driving Home Improvement Behaviors Among Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, and Baby Boomers in 2026
It’s no surprise that consumers of differing ages and in differing life stages have varying preferences and purchase motivations when it comes to selecting home improvement products.
June 26, 2026
Blog
Hardware Market Watch: Trends in Locks, Fasteners, Gate and Decorative Hardware in 2026
How do customers shopping for hardware behave, and what kind of projects do they undertake? What are their top product preferences? And, how does the state of the economy affect the hardware industry?
June 26, 2026
Blog
Key Industry Trends Driving MEP Product Sales in 2026-2030
Mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) projects tend to happen under the surface and behind the wall, but they're critical to maintaining the functionality and comfort of a home. With an aging housing inventory, these types of projects will be as important as ever in the coming years.
June 26, 2026
Blog
2026-2030 Market Expectations and Trends in Lawn & Garden Home Improvement Activities
When it comes to home improvement, what's on the outside is just as important as what's on the inside. For homeowners, taking care of their gardens and lawns is an important part of regular maintenance and stewardship of their space.
June 22, 2026
Blog
2026-2030 Market Expectations and Trends in Master Bathroom Remodeling Activities
Master bathroom remodeling is a popular home improvement project for a few reasons. These spaces get plenty of daily use for a multitude of personal and important uses. Individuals often perceive the master bathroom as a haven, one where they expect a certain level of comfort, privacy, and convenience.
June 19, 2026
Blog
7 Cross-Category Purchasing Trends to Inform Home Improvement Merchandising Strategies in 2026
Once a potential customer sets foot in a store, whether it's a brick-and-mortar establishment or a virtual shop, an opportunity presents itself. It's the opportunity to not only help them find and buy the items on their shopping list but also to motivate them to make a few extra purchases along the way.
June 19, 2026
Blog
Window Market Watch: Planning for Homeowner and Pro Purchases in 2026-2030
Due to increased new construction and remodeling activity in recent years, there has been steady growth in the window market.
