Home Centers & Hardware Stores NAICS 444110, 444140

Jan 24, 2026 - Home Centers & Hardware Stores

• The NAHB/Westlake Royal Remodeling Market Index (RMI) reading for the fourth quarter of 2025 was 64, up four points from the previous quarter, according to a January 2026 report by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Any RMI reading over 50 indicates that most remodelers feel market conditions are good. In the fourth quarter, the Current Conditions Index portion of the RMI rose three points to 71 compared to Q3 2025. The Future Indicators Index component of the RMI increased by four points to 56. While aging US housing stock, strong homeowner equity, and the aging-in-place trend kept the RMI solidly in positive territory in Q4 2025, the NAHB noted that high building costs and waning consumer confidence continue to pose challenges to the remodeling industry.
• US spending on residential building products is expected to post solid annual growth over the next few years, according to FMI's most recent Building Products Market Overview report. Residential building product spending is forecast to increase by 14% between 2024 and 2029. Over FMI's forecast period, HVAC is expected to be the fastest growing residential building product category, rising 21.1%, followed by insulation (17.1%), windows and doors (17.1%), flooring (10.3%), roofing (6.5%), plumbing (2.9%), and drywall (0.1%).

• Home Depot has sharply accelerated its delivery speeds after an eight-year supply chain buildout, now completing 55% of in-stock deliveries the same day or next day, more than triple its 2022 rate, according to Supply Chain Dive. The retailer has added nearly 200 specialized facilities, including 160 market delivery operations, 20 direct fulfillment centers, and 17 flatbed distribution centers, and uses a “ship from best location” algorithm to route orders efficiently. With its major networks largely built, Home Depot is working to expand the number of products that are available for fast shipping, cutting delivery times for items not stocked in stores from up to nine days to one or two. The company is also extending the reach of its flatbed centers through its Relay method, which has opened service to 18 additional markets. Leaders said continuous process reviews are helping reduce missed deliveries and improve customer satisfaction.
• A home design trend that emphasizes breaks from screen time may influence home center merchandising strategies. Homeowners and designers are increasingly embracing “analog rooms,” screen-free spaces to reduce digital overload, The Wall Street Journal reports. The trend reflects rising nostalgia for tactile experiences, from board games and vinyl records to rotary phones and even refurbished phone booths. Designers say clients want retreats that support presence, creativity, and mental well-being, leading to music rooms, game nooks, sunrooms, and wellness spaces that prioritize calm over connectivity. With fewer tech-related constraints, architects can design more imaginative and flexible layouts. Small touches, including analog clocks, magazine racks, and vintage instruments, signal a broader cultural shift toward homes that feel restorative rather than optimized.