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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Home Improvement Market Growth Revised Downward

The home improvement market’s growth forecast for 2025 has been lowered to 3.4%, down from an earlier projection of 5%, due to rising material costs, new tariffs and labor shortages. Economic pressures, including high tariffs on imported materials and a sluggish housing market affected by high mortgage rates, are contributing to slower activity. While existing home sales are expected to gradually recover, new housing starts may remain stagnant or decline slightly. Read More

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5 Home Renovation Projects That Are Most Tariff-Proof

These five remodeling projects are less affected by the rising costs of imported materials due to recent tariffs. They include updating kitchens and bathrooms, enhancing energy efficiency and improving curb appeal, as they often rely on domestically sourced materials or labor-intensive work. Allowing homeowners to focus on these areas to mitigate the impact of increased material costs and ensure their renovations remain within budget. Read More  

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April Private Residential Construction Spending Dips

Private residential construction spending declined for the third month in a row in April, driven by drops in single-family construction and home improvement projects. Compared to a year earlier, total residential spending was down 4.8%, with single-family spending falling 1.1% in April—ending a seven-month growth streak—and multifamily spending down 11.3% year-over-year. Elevated mortgage rates, material tariff concerns, and broader economic uncertainty continue to weigh heavily on the housing sector. Read More  

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