Global Scans · Homes · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: The number of smart homes is expected to grow further and by 2020 it is expected 46.2 million homes in the US and 44.9 million in Europe will be classed as smart homes. By 2022 there could be nearly 500 smart devices that can be connected to a smart home.

• [New] A share of around 19.8% is predicted to be held by the U.K. in 2026, supported by surging residential renovations, luxury housing projects, and extensive commercial developments concentrated in London as well as surrounding metropolitan areas. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Helping households and non-domestic buildings to move off fossil fuels will support energy security, bring down bills, and help progress towards the UK's carbon obligations. Energy UK
• [New] Leading Application: The household segment is projected to be the leading application type, accounting for over 55% of revenue in 2026, supported by convenience, portability, and strong e-commerce penetration. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Government initiatives are accelerating adoption, with countries like Australia investing $54 million to build 1.2 million homes by 2029 using prefabricated and modular construction methods. ReAnIn
• [New] Under the plans announced on Monday, £10bn will be spent helping to build 70,000 homes outside London, about 60% of which will be social rented houses. The Guardian
• [New] 45% of households plan to use BNPL for back-to-school purchases in 2026, up from 39% in 2025. ABC17NEWS
• [New] Furniture and Home Decor is projected to expand at a 13.43% CAGR through 2031, the fastest retail vertical. Mordor Intelligence
• [New] Energy-driven inflation is set to erode real household income and weigh on consumption through the rest of 2026, with stronger real wage growth and improving sentiment expected to lift private consumption only in 2027. investing.com
• [New] PA Media reports forecasts have indicated that households could see their bills rise by another 4% to the equivalent of £1,729 a year, as the widened conflict in the Middle East sparked by Donald Trump's war on Iran continues to push up wholesale energy prices. The Guardian
• [New] House construction costs rose 2% in June quarter 2026, and are now 51% higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated supply chain disruptions. NHSAC
• [New] The Retail Sales segment is expected to register the fastest growth at a CAGR of 8.7% during 2026-2033, due to rising availability of external VNS devices for home use. Data Bridge Market Research
• [New] As Singapore pushes towards becoming a sustainable smart nation, Internet of Things technology will be crucial in enabling smart farms, households, transportation, and more. sptel
• [New] From 2024 to 2033 the share of Chinese households with purchasing power to embark on international travel will roughly double. The Diplomat
• [New] The measures, part of the Warm Homes Plan, include £15.6 million to upgrade old and inefficient heat networks, and 4 projects in England to be given a share of £25 million for new, cleaner heating systems. Walker Morris
• [New] Uplifters Foundation plans to build new $3 million houses in the disaster area by issuing as much as $250 million in municipal bonds through the California Public Finance Authority. Insurance Journal
• [New] Small-business optimism is at its highest levels in a year, crediting AI investment in chips and the structures that house them with spillover business opportunities. Time
• [New] As of July, NSW was tracking about 40% behind the rate required to meet the Minns government's commitment to build 377,000 homes by mid-2029 under the National Housing Accord. The Sydney Morning Herald
• [New] By 2030, Singapore will hire 1,800 more infant care educators to meet the expected rising demand for infant care as services become more affordable for families. The Straits Times
• [New] UK investment in home-grown AI firms risks being undermined when they depend excessively on infrastructure controlled by overseas technology giants. theregister
• [New] UK households still discard around 4.2 million tonnes of avoidable food each year, including approximately 630,000 tonnes of items that could be frozen, such as bread and meat, representing a significant missed opportunity to reduce waste. The Clean Cooling Network
• [New] Demand for steel from the manufacturing sector - including mechanical engineering, automotive manufacturing, household appliance production, the energy sector and shipbuilding - is forecast to reach 344 million tonnes in 2026. GMK.CENTER
• [New] The European Union's Digital Decade 2030 targets mandate that all EU households have access to gigabit connectivity by the end of the decade. Persistence Market Research
• Total homeowner remodeling spending is anticipated to reach a record US$ 524 billion in early 2026, with year-over-year spending on home renovation projected to rise 2.4% in early 2026. Persistence Market Research

Last updated: 12 September 2026