Home Depot Launches Connected Home Initiative

July 7, 2014 Nearly 2,000 Home Depot stores in the U.S. began offering a wide range of connected home devices that run the Wink platform on July 7. The Wink platform unites close to 60 devices, creating the broadest set of connected home products in one ecosystem, with fifteen leading manufacturers of home products ranging… Read more »

The Conference Board Employment Trends Index Increased In June

July 7, 2014 The Conference Board Employment Trends Index (ETI) increased in June.  The index now stands at 119.62, up from 119.03 (an upward revision) in May.  This represents a 6.3 percent gain in the ETI compared to a year ago. “The rapid increase in the Employment Trends Index in recent months suggests that strong… Read more »

Grilling Up Good Times On The Fourth Of July

June 26, 2014 With winter’s polar vortex a distant memory, summer’s warm temperatures have consumers celebrating in front of the grill. According to NRF’s Independence Day Survey, more than 153 million consumers – nearly two-thirds of those celebrating – are set to observe the Fourth of July holiday with a cookout, barbeque or picnic, spending… Read more »

Weather Trends: July 2014

June 27, 2014 WTI expects July 2014 to trend similar to last year for the U.S. as a whole.  The East will trend near normal or cooler than normal, while warmer than normal temperatures will be confined to the West.  Overall, the peak of the summer is shaping up to be very similar to 2013… Read more »

Walgreens’ Profits Miss Street Expectations

Walgreens reported a 16% year-over-year jump in third quarter profit, but was forced to withdraw its previously issued fiscal 2016 guidance because it missed Wall Street estimates. The company’s net earnings for the quarter were $722 million compared to $624 million in the prior-year period.  Net sales increased 6% to $19.4 billion from $18.3 billion,… Read more »

New Home Sales Up 18.6 Percent In May

June 24, 2014 Sales of newly built, single-family homes rose 18.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 504,000 units in May, according to newly released data by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau.  This is the highest rate since May 2008. “These numbers are in line… Read more »

Dads Enjoy Better-Than-Expected Father’s Day

June 18, 2014 The National Retail Federation (NRF) had forecast that Father’s Day spending would shrink this year, reaching just $12.5 billion.  But it looks like the smallest of gift-giving holidays fared better than expected. Overall U.S. retail online sales for the week leading up to Father’s Day – June 9-15 – climbed more than… Read more »

U.S. Workers More Satisfied? Just Barely.

June 18, 2014 Americans have the highest job satisfaction levels since the beginning of the Great Recession, according to a report released today by The Conference Board.  The majority, however, continue to be unhappy at work. The report, based on a Fall 2013 survey of 5,000 U.S. households conducted for The Conference Board by The… Read more »