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A Home Depot location in Mexico City, on Jan. 15. LUIS CORTES/Reuters Home Depot Inc HD-N on Tuesday left its annual forecasts unchanged even as quarterly results topped Wall Street expectations, raising concerns about demand heading into the holiday season amid a slowing housing market. Shares in the largest U.S. home improvement chain slipped in early trade, with the number of transactions falling in the quarter as surging inflation deterred do-it-yourself customers. Mortgage rates have more than doubled since the start of 2022, cooling the housing market that boomed in the pandemic. Home Depot reiterated its full-year outlook, which Jefferies analysts said implied its fourth-quarter earnings would come in below Wall Street. Although demand from contractors, builders and other professional customers remained strong, DIY customers who had splurged on paint, tools and gardening equipment last year cut back on spending in the third quarter of this year. “Home Depot is not immune to a ...

A Walmart store in Washington, on Nov. 2. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images Walmart Inc WMT-N on Tuesday lifted its annual sales and profit forecast as demand for groceries holds up despite higher prices, while discounts on clothing and electronics helped it cut back excess inventories ahead of the busy holiday season. The company also announced a new $20-billion share buyback plan, sending its shares as much as up 7 per cent in morning trading to a six-month high of $148.40. Its results boosted stocks of other major retailers, including Target Corp, Costco and Macy’s Inc. Target reports results on Wednesday. Amid persistent inflation, investors have been nervously eyeing how consumer spending pans out during the crucial holiday season, when retailers make more than a third of their annual profits. “In this period of macroeconomic uncertainty … we are well equipped to continue gaining market share in an environment where consumers need to stretch their dollars further,” Chief Finan...

Photo : Joni Hanebutt ( Shutterstock ) Not only do Thanksgiving traditions vary across families (both biological and chosen), communities, and regions, they also have a tendency to evolve over time. This goes for the menu (e.g. the inclusion of Brussels sprouts since they became trendy in the early 21st century), as well as shopping habits. For some, digesting their dinner while waiting in line for discounted electronic devices became a yearly occurrence sometime in the 1990s or early 2000s. But that tradition has been fizzling out over recent years, as retailers respond to criticism that they’re ruining what’s supposed to be a “family holiday” for both shoppers and their employees, by closing on Thanksgiving Day. For your reference, here are some of the national retailers that will remain open on Thanksgiving Day, as well as a few that will be closed. Which stores are open on Thanksgiving Day 2022? Though the shift away from Thanksgiving Day shopping began before the days of...

Photo : Sampajano_Anizza ( Shutterstock ) Between ongoing product shortages , supply chain issues, and stores left with excess inventory , 2022 has been unpredictable when it comes to retail. So what does that mean for the traditionally deep discounts offered at the end of the year? Here’s what to know about 2022's after-Christmas sales, including when they start. How to get the best deals during after-Christmas sales For some people, the real shopping doesn’t begin until after the gift-giving holidays are over, when inventory may be diminished, but the prices are low. Here’s what to keep in mind when looking for the best deals: Not everything will be discounted While it’s safe to assume that some items—like holiday decorations, or regular products in festive holiday packaging—will be on sale after Christmas, that’s not the case for everything. For example, hold off on buying any fitness/exercise equipment, devices, or clothing until a few weeks into the new year (when pe...

Photo : Africa Studio ( Shutterstock ) Politicians and social media can’t get enough of the gas versus electric stove debate (at TausiInsider, we think Electric Stoves Are Good, Actually ) —but regardless of where you stand on it, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) federal legislation that was passed last year can essentially score you a free electric range in the hopes of incentivizing people to make the switch. Who qualifies for a rebate for a new electric range The rebate amount you’ll qualify for will depend on how your income compares to the Area Median Income in your area. (You can calculate your AMI with this tool by entering your address.) If your income falls between 80% and 150% of your local AMI , you’re eligible for a rebate of 50% of the price of your electric range, cooktop, or wall oven   (up to a maximum credit of $840). If your income falls below 80% of the AMI, you’ll qualify for a rebate of 100% of the price (up to $840) . (If your i ncomes is above 15...

Photo : Serghei Starus ( Shutterstock ) Large appliances like refrigerators, ovens, washers, and dryers are major household investments. And while affordability is an important factor, you don’t want to have to constantly repair the appliance, or replace it too soon, so you don’t want to sacrifice quality. In many cases, being able to get the features you want at a price you can afford comes down to where you buy the appliance—including whether or not you can haggle. Here’s what to know. How to haggle when shopping for appliances It’s one thing to haggle when buying a used car, or piece of vintage furniture at a flea market, but according to a report from Consumer Reports (CR), it’s also possible to bargain when purchasing a new appliance. Using data from a survey of approximately 20,000 people who purchased more than 30,000 large and small appliances, CR analysts gained the following insights on consumers’ haggling successes and strategies: Just ask : Not sure where to start? A...

A Home Depot location in Whitby, Ont., on May 28, 2020. Christopher Katsarov/Tausi Insider Retailer Home Depot HD-N shared details from electronic receipts with Meta, which operates the Facebook social media platform, without the knowledge or consent of customers, the federal privacy watchdog has found. In a report released Thursday, privacy commissioner Philippe Dufresne said the data included encoded email addresses and in-store purchase information. The commissioner’s investigation discovered that the information sent to Meta META-Q was used to see whether a customer had a Facebook account. If they did have an account, Meta compared what the customer bought at Home Depot to advertisements sent over the platform to measure and report on the effectiveness of the ads. Meta was also able to use the customer information for its own business purposes, including user profiling and targeted advertising, unrelated to Home Depot, the commissioner found. It is unlikely that Home Depot custom...