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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 »

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 »

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 »

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 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 »

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 »

June 24, 2014 Index at Highest Level Since January 2008 The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, which had increased in May, improved again in June.  The Index now stands at 85.2, up from 82.2 in May.  The Present Situation Index increased to 85.1 from 80.3, while the Expectations Index rose to 85.2 from 83.5 in... Read more »

June 19, 2014 The Conference Board Leading Economic Index (LEI) for the U.S. increased 0.5 percent in May to 101.7, following a 0.3 percent increase in April, and a 1.0 percent increase in March. “May’s increase in the LEI, the fourth consecutive one, was broad based,” said Ataman Ozyildirim, Economist at The Conference Board.  “Housing... Read more »

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 »