Business
Just do it...yourself: Why home improvement retailers are having a great year

Just do it...yourself: Why home improvement retailers are having a great year

David Crowther

It's a good time to be in the DIY business. This week home improvement retailer Home Depot reported that revenues in its latest quarter were up 33% on this time last year, which is a pretty remarkable result for a company that's used to growing at 5-10% in a decent year.

It's no secret why home improvement has become more popular. Lockdown was the perfect excuse for people to take on home renovation projects that they'd previously not had the time to do — and with movement restrictions that meant they had to do the improvements themselves. Chuck into the mix a wave of folks building home offices or workstations and you've got the perfect cocktail for the home improvement industry.

‍The I word

‍As well as getting a lockdown bump, Home Depot President Ted Decker was quick to mention the "I word" — that inflation played its part in the Home Depot revenue numbers — citing higher lumber prices as a factor (something we wrote about here).

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business
Max Knoblauch

Less than a year after implementing them, Southwest is also hiking its bag fees

Southwest Airlines has joined the growing list of airlines opting to hike their bag fees amid sustained higher jet fuel costs.

Starting today, the first checked bag at the carrier — which implemented bag fees less than a year ago — will jump from $35 to $45, and the second from $45 to $55. Southwest quietly disclosed the change Tuesday.

Southwest assigned the decision to “part of an ongoing analysis of the business and against the evolving global backdrop.”

As of Wednesday, jet fuel prices dropped to $4.16 a gallon per the Argus US Jet Fuel Index, down from $4.81 on Tuesday amid President Trump’s ceasefire announcement that sent travel stocks soaring. Major airlines have shed some of those gains in premarket trading Thursday.

With the move to hike bag fees, Southwest joinsJetBlue, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Canada’s WestJet, all of which also boosted fees this month. Experts expect more major carriers to follow, and potentially tweak the pricing of other ancillary revenue sources like seat assignments and carry-on luggage.

Three US airlines have already hiked baggage fees. More are likely on the way.

Three US airlines have already hiked baggage fees. More are likely on the way.

Southwest assigned the decision to “part of an ongoing analysis of the business and against the evolving global backdrop.”

As of Wednesday, jet fuel prices dropped to $4.16 a gallon per the Argus US Jet Fuel Index, down from $4.81 on Tuesday amid President Trump’s ceasefire announcement that sent travel stocks soaring. Major airlines have shed some of those gains in premarket trading Thursday.

With the move to hike bag fees, Southwest joinsJetBlue, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Canada’s WestJet, all of which also boosted fees this month. Experts expect more major carriers to follow, and potentially tweak the pricing of other ancillary revenue sources like seat assignments and carry-on luggage.

Claire Yubin Oh
21h
Music record companies love being “artist-centric” — but how much do they pay out to artists?

On Tuesday, Pershing Square made a $64 billion bid to buy Universal Music Group.

In this photo illustration, the Universal Music Group logo
Mounjaro KwikPen Photo Illustrations

Eli Lilly makes the world’s bestselling drug. Can it keep the party going?

Some are starting to worry that Lilly, which for a short time vaulted into the trillion-dollar market cap club, may have hit a plateau.

J. Edward Moreno21h
Max Knoblauch
4/7/26
Check, please

WE
CAN’T
CARRY
ON
LIKE
THIS

business
Max Knoblauch

Delta to increase bag fees by $10 on domestic flights this week, following JetBlue and United, as jet fuel surges

As the price of jet fuel surges amid the war in Iran, Delta Air Lines on Tuesday announced that it will hike its checked bag fees by $10 beginning this week.

Checking one bag on a domestic Delta flight will now cost $45, up from $35. A second bag will cost $55, up from $45, and a third will cost $200, up from $150. In a statement to Sherwood News, Delta issued the following announcement:

“For tickets purchased on or after April 8, Delta will increase fees for first and second checked bags by $10 and for a third checked bag by $50 on domestic and select short-haul international routes. These updates are part of Delta’s ongoing review of pricing across its business and reflect the impact of evolving global conditions and industry dynamics. Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members; customers traveling in First Class, Delta Premium Select and Delta One; active-duty military customers; and those with eligible co-branded Delta SkyMiles American Express Cards will continue to receive their allotment of complimentary checked bags.”

The move follows similar hikes by JetBlue and United Airlines last week. More are likely to come: when one major airline adjusts its fees, others tend to follow quickly behind. Delta last raised its bag fees in 2024, along with other major airlines.

Jet fuel prices were $4.69 a gallon on Monday, per the Argus US Jet Fuel Index. That’s up from the low $2 range for much of January.

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