Canadian Industrial Profile: Home Improvement Stores—Autumn 2017

Renovation Spending—Elevated housing prices are deterring some consumers from purchasing new homes. Instead they are choosing to renovate. National spending on renovations is expected to increase by 6.5 per cent this year and by a further 4.6 per cent in 2018.

Lowe’s Expansion—Lowe’s is revamping several of its newly acquired Rona stores and plans to double the number of its small Ace hardware stores in coming years, supporting industry investment.

Disposable Income—Growth in real disposable income is expected to slow over the next few years, limiting the potential upside of discretionary home improvement purchases.