News
Borrowing Costs · Consumer Spending · Energy Prices · Swimming Pools
Spencer Jakab reports in The Wall Street Journal that surging energy prices and rising borrowing costs are negatively impacting the swimming pool industry, specifically citing Pool, the world's largest distributor of swimming-pool supplies, due to increased costs for backyard pool construction and maintenance.
The article details how these macroeconomic pressures create an unfavorable environment for consumers considering expensive home improvement projects like new swimming pools. Higher energy expenses directly increase operational costs for pool builders, while elevated interest rates raise financing costs for consumers, thereby dampening overall demand for new installations and related services.
The piece notes that Pool has historically experienced "plenty of ups and downs," suggesting its business is sensitive to economic cycles. This current economic climate implies a challenging outlook for the swimming pool supply sector as long as these significant cost pressures persist, affecting both new construction and ongoing maintenance.
Energy Costs, Rates Hit Pool Corp.(current)
