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U.S. consumers shift spending to décor and essentials as big-ticket home purchases stall. Anne Flynn Wear //Assistant Managing Editor//February 20, 2026 NEW YORK - Data insights company Consumer Edge has released its Home & Garden Outlook 2026, showing that consumers pulled back on large, discretionary purchases such as furniture and mattresses, while spending held up better on décor, kitchen products and essential home maintenance. "What we're seeing isn't a collapse in home spending, but a reset of priorities," said Michael Gunther, Consumer Edge vice president, research and market intelligence. "Consumers are pushing pause on large, discretionary purchases while continuing to invest in repairs and upkeep." The company's transaction data revealed that elevated interest rates, limited housing turnover and ongoing affordability concerns were key drivers weighing on overall home and garden spending last year, ultimately pushing many households to postpone major home investments. Additional trends: * Big-ticket home purchases stalled as consumers delayed furniture and mattress purchases, while smaller upgrades held up better. * Repairs and maintenance outperformed broader home improvement, benefiting retailers like Ace Hardware, Sherwin-Williams, Menards and Rural King. * Pricing remained elevated across home furnishings even as demand slowed, with higher average ticket sizes at Pottery Barn, West Elm, Crate & Barrel and Ashley Furniture. * Spending slowed across income groups, with the sharpest pullback among households earning under $40K and over $150K. * Millennial homeowners (aged 25-44) increased their share of home improvement spending, supporting longer-term demand for brands like Lowe's, Home Depot and Sherwin-Williams. "That dynamic is also evident in home furnishings, with consumers delaying big-ticket purchases like furniture and mattresses while continuing to spend on lower-commitment upgrades, such as small décor and kitchen product purchases," Gunther said. He believes retailers that focus on everyday needs, durability and real value are more likely to benefit from customer demand, while big-ticket home purchases are likely to remain under pressure until housing and financing conditions improve. Consumer Edge's full Home & Garden Outlook can be read here. Founded in 2009 by CEO Bill Pecoriello, Consumer Edge delivers real-time, transaction-based data that helps clients eliminate uncertainty, benchmark performance and make high-impact decisions.

Consumer Edge launches AI chat beta to help companies gain insights faster and smarter. Consumer Edge, the leading provider of global consumer data-driven insights, announced the beta launch of a new artificial-intelligence (AI) tool designed to make querying and analyzing data faster and discovering more insights easier for all users. This new AI tool is integrated directly into the Consumer Edge Dash platform, enabling clients to explore transaction datasets through natural-language. The capability makes advanced analytics more accessible, allowing users across roles - from investment analysts to corporate strategists - to create insights and visualizations instantly. "We're continually innovating to make data access more intuitive," said Bill Pecoriello, CEO of Consumer Edge. "Our new AI functionality puts sophisticated analytics directly into our clients' hands. Instead of waiting for custom reports or technical support, users can now ask questions in plain English and get instant answers - visuals, summaries, and data - all within seconds. It's transforming how our clients work, helping them move from raw data to confident decision-making faster than ever." Built to accelerate data insight generation, this AI functionality lets users instantly query Consumer Edge's rich transaction data to identify merchant-level trends and analyze consumer behavior differences across geographies. Key features include: * Any Question, Instant Answers: Come with any question using transaction level data and receive results in minutes vs. weeks. * Natural-Language Querying: Ask questions in plain English - no SQL or code required. * Automated Data Exploration: Define custom cohorts, slice by price point, and surface spending trends like top markets and performers on demand. * Custom Visualization: View results as summaries, charts, or raw-data outputs. * Built for Trust: Developed with rigorous testing, embedded guardrails, and proven data integrity standards to ensure every output is consistent, reliable, and transparent. * AI Adoption Made Easy: Designed to accelerate adoption across organizations - removing technical barriers so teams can confidently integrate AI into their daily workflows and decision-making. Continued Pecoriello, "This functionality enhances productivity and empowers our users to self-serve complex analyses - reducing turnaround time, improving accuracy, and enabling deeper dives into our data."