CNBC reported that many U.S. homeowners are trapped in their old homes due to high mortgage rates and cannot borrow for home renovations because Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) costs are too high. Data from retail analytics firm Datavations shows that sales in the large home renovation category for retailers such as Home Depot and Lowe's are projected to decline by 10% to 28% year-over-year between September 2025 and August 2026. Specifically, shower product sales decreased by 21%, with unit sales down 28%; bathtub sales decreased by 10%, with unit sales down 12%. Angie Hicks, co-founder of Angi, noted that 60% of consumers are postponing renovation projects, prioritizing maintenance spending instead.