Foot traffic to The Home Depot and Lowe's held close to last year's levels in Q2 2026, with both overall and same-store visits diverging less than a percentage point from Q2 2025. The quarter moderates from a stronger Q1 but extends the stabilization that began in Q3 2025 — suggesting the category's recovery has paused rather than reversed. Monthly data shows year-over-year growth at both chains slowing sharply in March, likely reflecting rising gas prices that squeezed household budgets and pushed shoppers to delay larger purchases. Lowe's saw an April traffic lift from its spring sale and an easier year-ago comparison. Placer.ai examines what the numbers reveal about home improvement demand, why deferred maintenance may be accumulating, and what could drive a return to growth in the second half of 2026.

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