Part 2/9:
As the world's largest home improvement retailer, Home Depot's insights carry significant weight. The company recently indicated that the anticipated recovery in demand for home renovations is unlikely to materialize fully. Economic trends reveal that consumers, feeling the pinch of rising costs and stagnant wages, are tightening their budgets. Following a peak in housing starts in 2022, a decline has been observed, mirroring trends in durable goods orders—a sign that economic momentum may be faltering.