Home improvement stores feel the pinch
· 26 min
Episode Home improvement stores feel the pinch
Retail sales jumped 1.2% in August after falling in July. But building materials stores — think Home Depot or Lowe’s — still saw a dip. That’s because stretched consumers are putting off “nice-to-haves,” like home renovations. Also in this episode: The future of global energy demand will be driven by a mix of renewables and fossil fuels, high school students take a new AP class melding business and personal finance, and neighbors organize to cooperatively buy their mobile home park.
Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.
Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.
Read the stories in today’s episode:
• The countries driving energy demand growth can't wait for renewables to get cheaper • Kevin Warsh isn't a "data point-dependent guy" • Home improvement stores take a housing market hit • High schoolers take new AP business with personal finance class • Residents of a mobile home park try to buy their community before someone else does • Turning a childhood home into a place to share with strangers
Links in the notes 9
- https://www.marketplace.org/newsletters
- https://www.marketplace.org/
- https://www.marketplace.org/make-a-smart-investment
- https://www.marketplace.org/story/2026/09/17/whats-next-for-global-energy-demand-growth
- https://www.marketplace.org/story/2026/09/17/should-the-feds-economic-data-be-public-private-or-both
- https://www.marketplace.org/story/2026/09/17/retail-declines-at-home-improvement-stores
- https://www.marketplace.org/story/2026/09/17/high-schoolers-take-new-ap-business-with-personal-finance-class
- https://www.marketplace.org/story/2026/09/17/colorado-mobile-home-park-residents-organize-to-buy-park-land
- https://www.marketplace.org/story/2026/09/17/turning-a-childhood-home-into-a-place-to-share-with-strangers
Shows are listed from Apple Podcasts' charts and directory, and Podcast Index where it is used. Every show and episode belongs to its publisher and plays from the publisher's own feed; this site hosts none of them. Explicit shows are for adult profiles only, and children’s profiles hear only children’s shows. More about this list.