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Sherwin-Williams and Tractor Supply pace the Home Channel Stock Roundup. Elsewhere on the Dashboard, gas prices creep upward to $3.61 for a gallon of regular.

Sherwin-Williams and Fastenal lead the gainers on the Home Channel Stock Roundup. Elsewhere on the Dashboard, the residential construction dials show big improvements, while existing-home sales declined from May.

Home channel stocks are all over the board, led by Home Depot and Sherwin-Williams. Existing-home sales are down slightly from April, but way up from May 2011. 

Gas prices decline to a national average of $3.55 for a gallon of regular. Elsewhere on the Dashboard, Home Depot and Sherwin-Williams show strength on the Home Channel Stock Roundup.

Stocks are once again all over the board, but housing starts and sales are all dialed in consistently ahead of the previous month, and way ahead of the previous year.

Gas prices show a minor retreat -- down to a national average of $3.78 for a gallon of regular. Stocks are all over the board, and the unemployment rate inches downward.

Half the stocks on the Home Channel Stock Roundup are in negative territory for the month, and half are in positive. Compared with last year, though, the majority of stocks are showing strong growth.

The latest reading of consumer confidence dipped slightly, while gas prices climbed to an average $3.93 per gallon of regular. Stocks are scattered across the grid.

On the Consumer Watch section of the Dashboard: gas price increases have slowed considerably, and unemployment holds steady. Stocks are all across the board, with Fastenal out in front.

Across the monthly retail sales chart, the last three months of available data show strength compared with the previous year. Also on the Dashboard, gas prices crept upward.

Unadjusted NAICS 44413 hardware store sales hit $1.74 billion in November, up from last year and last month. Elsewhere on the Dashboard, gas prices crept upward.

Consumer Confidence made a surge in December, pushing the needle from an index reading of 55.2 to 64.5. Total housing starts also surged, while single-family starts increased slightly.