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After four slow winter months, consumers rebounded in April, increasing spending .4% from the previous month. Economists are crediting income growth, low inflation, low interest rates and rising household wealth for the rise. The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta predicted on Tuesday that gross domestic product would expand at 3.8%. Inflation is still weakened versus... Read more »

Accelerated Analytics customers who sell their products at The Home Depot saw their first quarter comp sales increase 12% over last year! That’s double the results reported by The Home Depot when they released their first quarter results last month. In a news release on May 16th, The Home Depot reported sales of $23.9 billion for the... Read more »

The residential housing investments in Q1 2017 grew a huge 13.7%, which is the strongest quarter in 2 years. Data for new and existing home sales, home improvement spending and housing starts are greatly improved over those 2 years. Consumer spending in Q1 was pretty flat, growing just a slight 0.3%, but with employment and... Read more »

Beauty retailer Bluemercury is going strong and has plans for significant expansion during a time when many brick and mortar stores are shutting their doors. According to Barry Beck, Founder and COO of Bluemercury, location is everything. “I bet I could open 60 stores in Manhattan, 40 stores in Chicago, 50 in the greater Chicago... Read more »

Though many major retailers are dealing with shrinking sales, closing stores, deep losses and a historic wave of layoffs, home improvement and other sectors of the $400 billion retail industry are thriving. Last week, department stores JC Penney and Macys both reported more bad news with regard to 2017 losses as they struggle to stay... Read more »

The annual NRHA (North American Retail Hardware Association) sponsored National Hardware Show in Las Vegas last week was another great tradition for our Accelerated Analytics team! Thousands of vendors displayed their product lines and future new releases in everything from paints and tools to lawn care and appliances. This was a great opportunity to meet... Read more »

Much has been said about millennials—with good reason. Their attitudes, habits, knowledge and expectations are spurring cultural and technological changes to businesses worldwide. But the next generation is advancing, right on the heels of the millennials—Gen Z, and its presence will bring even bigger changes and challenges to retailers. While millennials made the most impact... Read more »

Each year, Green Builder magazine makes an annual selection of the “most innovative, creative and all-around sustainable products available to the building market”. This year’s HOT 50 PRODUCTS list was announced on April 17, and two Accelerated Analytics DIY, Home & Hardware customers were named to the list: DuPont Tyvek and Trex! DuPont Tyvek’s Protec... Read more »

Ace Hardware Corporation, with 5,000 locally owned and operated stores in all 50 states and 60 countries, announced Thursday it will be opening a 1.1 million square-foot distribution center in Bethel Township, PA. The company is investing $20M to create the DC, and will serve stores in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Washington, DC.... Read more »