2025 ASID Economic Outlook Report

The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) has released its 2025 Economic Outlook report, highlighting how tariffs, rising costs, and labor shortages are creating an uneven recovery for the design industry. While moderate consumer spending and employment growth offer some stability, persistent challenges like paused infrastructure projects and high housing prices demand that designers remain agile and forward-thinking. The report identifies new opportunities in sectors such as adaptive reuse, build-to-rent housing, and aging-in-place design, offering data-driven insights to help interior designers navigate and grow in a shifting economic landscape. Read…

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2025 National/Regional RotY Award Winner

The 2025 National/Regional Remodeler of the Year Award winner for Residential Kitchen Under $50,000 transformed a closed-off kitchen into a bright, open-concept space by removing surrounding walls and incorporating thoughtful design upgrades. The remodel prioritized improved traffic flow, expanded counter space and refreshed finishes while preserving style and function. Read More

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Business Roundtable Launches New Workforce Initiative

The Business Roundtable has launched a Skilled Trades Initiative to address U.S. labor shortages by promoting careers in high-demand fields like construction, manufacturing, maintenance and energy. Spearheaded by CEOs such as Marvin Ellison (Lowe’s) and David Gitlin (Carrier), the program partners with companies, experts and nonprofits to create resources, training, and tools aimed at strengthening the industrial and construction workforce. Read More

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Producer Prices Rise in May: New Construction Input Analysis

Prices for inputs to new residential construction rose 0.2% in May after a slight decline in April, with building materials increasing 0.1% month-over-month and 2.5% year-over-year. While energy input costs rose slightly in May, they remain nearly 10% lower than a year ago. Overall, input prices for residential construction are up 1.9% from May 2024, driven by modest increases in both goods and services. Read More

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The Fed Pause Continues

The Federal Reserve maintained its current interest rate range of 4.25% to 4.5%, continuing its pause on rate cuts despite earlier reductions in late 2024. Chair Jerome Powell emphasized the Fed’s commitment to reducing inflation and achieving full employment, noting that persistent shelter inflation and ongoing housing affordability challenges—exacerbated by high construction costs—are key concerns. While economic activity remains solid and unemployment is low, the Fed slightly downgraded its 2025 GDP growth forecast and raised its inflation outlook, citing tariff uncertainty as a potential contributor to elevated inflation through the…

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