Home Depot

Pending home sales and housing starts are down. Meanwhile, mortgage rates hover above 6.5%.

The company blamed consumer uncertainty and a stuck housing market.

The retailer’s recent acquisition of building supply distributor GMS is another sign Home Depot is going after the big guys — think entire home construction instead of bathroom renovations.

The home improvement retailer is in a better position than some to hold the line.

Home Depot and Lowe’s are using chatbots to mimic in-store help, but that’s still a work in progress.

It’s the first time the home improvement retailer posted gains in two years. This is partly because homeowners are renovating instead of shopping for a new home.

The home improvement retailer’s third-quarter sales came in higher than expected, but the company is seeing caution among consumers.

The company says customers are deferring big renovation projects because of high interest rates and economic worries.

Lowe’s reported that first quarter sales are down from the same period last year, but spending by professionals is up.

The home improvement company is buying SRS Distribution, a roofing, landscaping and pool construction supplier, for $18 billion.