The Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies released its quarterly report on the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA). This is a prediction on the near-future of the remodeling industry. The most recent LIRA calculation forecasts a positive pace in year-over-year growth in home renovation and repair spending for the first quarter of 2027. While it remains in positive territory, at 0.5 percent, there are slight concerns over outpacing inflation.
“Growth in remodeling permits and retail spending on building products has been flat recently, signaling stagnant interest in home improvement,” said Rachel Bogardus Drew, Director of the Remodeling Futures Program at the Center. “Even so, homeowners are expected to maintain spending at roughly last year’s levels, with total improvement and repair expenditures edging up modestly to $523 billion in early 2027.”
The next LIRA release date is July 23, 2026.
