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All trends, one table

Signal Board

Every trend we have reported on, in one table. Each row shows the lifecycle stage and the momentum score from its report. Filter by stage or industry, or sort by momentum to see what is moving fastest and what is fading. How the Trend Signal is scored.

Every published trend with its stage and momentum score
Trend Industry Stage Momentum Published
Phone-Free Schools Created a Hardware Market: Pouches, Caddies and What the Biggest Study Found Rules are in effect in at least 39 states and the storage hardware has followed them Education and LearningMarket Shift ● Mainstream 72
Car Seats Must Pass a Federal Side-Impact Test From December 5, 2026: Buy Now or Wait? Most big brands already comply before the deadline Baby and ParentingBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 72
Die-Cast Cars Are Carrying the Toy Aisle: Mattel Vehicles Billings Rose 14% While Dolls Fell Vehicles grew while dolls and preschool fell, two quarters running Collectibles and ToysTrend Report ● Mainstream 70
De Minimis Is Suspended Indefinitely, Mail Included: What the 2026 Rules Mean for Small Sellers Duty-free small parcels are gone and mail volume fell by about two-thirds Small Business and Side HustlesMarket Shift ● Mainstream 70
Denim Brands Are Outgrowing the Rack Around Them: The 2026 Jeans Numbers Denim specialists raised guidance while general apparel stayed choppy Fashion and ApparelTrend Report ● Mainstream 68
What a Portable Power Station Can Actually Run, in Published Watts Capacity sells the unit, but the inverter rating is what decides the answer Travel and AdventureBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 66
PFAS-Free Rain Jackets Are Now the Default: What State Bans Changed and How to Keep One Dry Sales bans in four states, with more dates already on the books Fashion and ApparelBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 66
Outdoor Faucet Covers: What a Foam Dome Buys You, and What It Cannot Seasonal demand opens in October while the failure it prevents is mostly self-inflicted Home ImprovementBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 64
SEER2, HSPF2 and EER2: Why a Mini Split Rating Cannot Be Compared With an Older Number The metric changed once in 2023 and the next one is already written into the CFR Energy and SustainabilityExplainer ● Mainstream 64
Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum Docks: What the Capacity Numbers Really Measure Docks are standard on new models, and the consumable is where they differ Smart HomeBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 64
Bear Canister Rules Are Not National: The Park You Visit Publishes Its Own Approved List Approved-container lists decide what counts, and they are maintained park by park Travel and AdventureBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 64
Countertop Ice Makers That Take a Water Line Exist. Most of the Ones You See Do Not A plumbed countertop machine is a model feature, not a category Home and KitchenBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 64
Heat Pump Prices in 2026: Equipment Costs Are Up, the 30% Credit Is Gone, and Shipments Still Grow Shipments up, prices up, subsidy gone Energy and SustainabilityPrice Trail ● Mainstream 64
Ceramic, Infrared or Oil-Filled: What Actually Differs Between the Three Heater Types Three formats, one standard, and one identical bill per watt Energy and SustainabilityExplainer ● Mainstream 63
Lumber Prices for Hobby Woodworkers: Softwood Took the Tariff, Hardwood Is Next in Line Softwood and plywood up double digits while hardwood barely moves Hobbies and CraftsPrice Trail ● Mainstream 62
A Mini Air Purifier for a Bedroom: What the Decibel Claim on the Box Is Measured Against Noise decides the bedroom buy and no standard requires a maker to publish it Home and KitchenExplainer ● Mainstream 62
Portable Monitors Run on One Cable Now. The Spec That Decides Which One Suits Your Laptop Four spec sheets, four power draws from 4.5 to 24 watts down the same USB-C cable Work and OfficeMarket Shift ● Mainstream 62
Clip-On Wireless Mics Got Cheaper and Smarter: What Phone Creators Should Check in 2026 Price cuts pushed backup recording into the entry tier Creators and ContentBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 62
Running Shoes Became the Everyday Sneaker: Hoka and On Keep Growing While Nike Resets Still growing, but Hoka growth has slowed by half Fashion and ApparelTrend Report ● Mainstream 62
Tap to Pay or a Card Reader? A 2026 Buyer’s Brief for Market and Craft-Fair Vendors Cash fell to about one in eight payments as phone checkout spread Small Business and Side HustlesBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 62
Ice Melt Safe for Concrete: Two Concrete Authorities Disagree About Calcium Chloride The one federal label with published ice melt criteria is on its way out Home ImprovementExplainer ● Mainstream 61
Gifts for New Homeowners: The Four Things a House Needs and Nobody Buys The alarm standard moved under buyers, and the product pages now state which edition Home and KitchenBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 60
Robot Vacuums for Carpet and Hardwood: How to Read a Suction Claim Published suction figures passed 30,000 Pa with no shared carpet test behind them Smart HomeBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 60
Campfire Bans Now Cover Most of a Season, and They Increasingly Name Propane Fire Pits Seasonal fire orders now run for months and spell out which devices are exempt Travel and AdventureExplainer ● Mainstream 60
Seven Years of Updates Became the Standard: How Long a 2026 Phone Keeps Getting Them Long support promises are now standard across the three big platforms Tech and GadgetsBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 60
Water Leak Sensors Are Cheap Now. The Shutoff Valve Is the Part That Pays Sensors are a commodity; insurers are pushing the valve Smart HomeTrend Report ● Mainstream 60
Canned Food Kept Its Tariff After the Others Were Refunded, and the Can Aisle Shows It Canned goods are outpacing frozen while the metal tariff stays in place Food and DrinkMarket Shift ● Mainstream 60
Fall Detection Went Mainstream on Smartwatches. Medical Alert Plans Now Sell the Person Who Answers Fall detection is now standard on watches; alert firms charge for monitoring Aging and AccessibilityMarket Shift ● Mainstream 60
Do You Still Need a Graphing Calculator? The SAT, AP and ACT Now Build One In Built-in Desmos now reaches nearly every SAT taker Education and LearningBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 60
Cooling Mattress Toppers Sit Outside the Open Flame Rule, and Nobody Defines Cooling A topper is excluded from the open flame rule by name, and its recall file is empty Home and KitchenBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 58
Electric Kettles With No Plastic Touching the Water: What Makers Actually Claim Shoppers search on materials and the published claims stop short Food and DrinkExplainer ● Mainstream 58
A Robot Vacuum and Mop for a Small Apartment: Size the Dock Before the Robot The robot got slimmer while the station it lives in got considerably larger Smart HomeBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 58
Microchips, Tags and Bluetooth Trackers: What Each One Does When a Pet Goes Missing Trackers are on collars everywhere while reunion numbers slipped PetsMarket Shift ● Mainstream 58
Drawer Storage Is Being Recalled in Waves: The Federal Stability Rule Behind It A recall drumbeat that went from three a year to more than two a month Home and KitchenExplainer ● Mainstream 58
Baseball Bats Get a New Stamp and Three Lighter Drops: What USA BBCOR Changes A certification changed hands after a July 2026 announcement, bats reach stores July 2027 Sports and RecreationMarket Shift ● Mainstream 58
Europe Banned the Chemical That Sets Gel Polish. US Bottles Are Being Relabeled Anyway One EU entry rewrote gel formulas worldwide while US rules stayed put Beauty and GroomingMarket Shift ● Mainstream 58
What It Costs to Leave a Smart Home Switched On in 2026 Always-on gear draws more while the price per kilowatt-hour keeps climbing Smart HomePrice Trail ● Mainstream 58
Shipping Box Prices Are Climbing Again After Three Containerboard Increases in 2026 Mill price increases are reaching the box, while box volume stays flat Small Business and Side HustlesPrice Trail ● Mainstream 58
Baby Gates With Built-In Pet Doors Fail the Federal Standard From July 19, 2026 One popular feature is being designed out of a flat category Baby and ParentingMarket Shift ● Mainstream 58
True HEPA Is a Marketing Phrase. The Definition Behind HEPA Is Federal and Specific. A federal definition exists; EPA says the consumer version of the word has none Home and KitchenExplainer ● Mainstream 58
A Compact Air Fryer for a Dorm: Your Housing Contract Decides This, Not the Product Page A settled product category governed by unsettled campus rules Home and KitchenBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 58
Dehumidifier for a Basement: Why 50 Pints Is Not the 50 Pints You Remember The rating scale moved in 2019 and the shelf still reflects it Home ImprovementExplainer ● Mainstream 58
Power Stations Now Pitch Whole-Home Backup: What to Check in 2026 on Size, Recalls and Tariffs Bigger units at mass retail, with recalls and tariffs attached Energy and SustainabilityBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 58
Vinyl Plank Keeps Winning: Luxury Vinyl Outsold Carpet Again in 2025 as Total Flooring Sales Slipped Luxury vinyl still gaining share in a shrinking flooring market Home ImprovementTrend Report ● Mainstream 58
Aging-in-Place Remodels Are Going Upscale in 2026, Even as Fewer Remodelers Take the Work Requests keep rising while the share of remodelers doing the work hit a low Aging and AccessibilityTrend Report ● Mainstream 58
USA Pickleball’s 2,100 RPM Spin Cap Starts October 1: What It Changes for Paddle Buyers Pickleball gear sales rose in 2025 as player growth slowed and paddle rules tightened Sports and RecreationBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 58
Secret Santa Gifts for Adults: What Each Category Is Actually Held To The commonest exchange gifts sit under voluntary standards, not mandatory ones Home and KitchenBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 57
SAT Takers Topped 2 Million Again on Redesigned Tests: Which Prep Books Still Match Test volume is up and the formats have changed Education and LearningMarket Shift ● Mainstream 57
Roof Rakes and Roof Snow Load: How to Tell Whether the Snow Up There Matters Steady winter demand, and the qualifiers buyers add are about the roof, not the snow Home ImprovementTrend Report ● Mainstream 56
Heat Tape for Pipes With a Thermostat: What It Costs to Run Against What a Burst Pipe Costs A settled product whose running cost moves faster than the product does Home ImprovementPrice Trail ● Mainstream 56
Ten Hair Dryer Recalls Since January 2025, Every One for the Same Missing Plug A recall roster that keeps growing inside one product type Beauty and GroomingBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 56
Rollator, Upright Walker or Plain Folding Frame: What Medicare Pays For and What It Denies A settled product category with an unsettled payment rulebook Aging and AccessibilityBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 56
Decodable Readers Left the Classroom and Landed in the Home Bookshelf: What the Reading Data Shows Phonics-first instruction is the default and the publishing catalog is still catching up Education and LearningTrend Report ● Mainstream 55
The Cabin Air Filter Is the Cheapest Air Cleaner in Your Car and the Easiest One to Forget Universal fitment, steady demand, sharp spikes on smoke and pollen days Auto and EVsBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 55
TVs Grew Past the Mounting Standard: What a Wall Mount Weight Limit Actually Covers Screens keep growing while the published mounting standard stops at 90 inches Gaming and EntertainmentTrend Report ● Mainstream 55
Cat Litter Prices in 2026: Costs Per Ton Are Rising Faster Than the Shelf Price Production costs are climbing faster than the pet supplies index PetsPrice Trail ● Mainstream 55
Mini Fridge With a Freezer: What Counts as a Freezer and What Does Not The federal definition, not the product title, decides whether it can freeze Home and KitchenBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 55
Draft Stopper for the Bottom of a Door: The Three Numbers That Decide Which Type Fits A flat seasonal category buoyed by a fifth straight year of rising power prices Home ImprovementBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 55
Your Next Phone Probably Ships Without a Charger. Here Is What Actually Changed Unbundled chargers are now the default, and the port is settled by law Tech and GadgetsMarket Shift ● Mainstream 55
Dog Grooming at Home: 51% of Owners Do It, and Pet Service Prices Keep Climbing Half of owners groom at home as service prices outpace inflation PetsBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 55
Sauna Blankets and Home Saunas Reached Mass Retail. Then Came Seven Recalls in 11 Months Sold at Costco, Target and Walmart, with 7 recalls in 11 months Health and WellnessBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 55
Robot Vacuums After the FCC Rule and iRobot’s Sale: What Changes for US Buyers Global demand kept growing in 2025, but new US models now need a federal sign-off Smart HomeMarket Shift ● Mainstream 55
Waterproof Mattress Protector or Mattress Pad? Only One of Them Is Federally Regulated A quilted pad is inside the federal flammability rule; a thin protector is not Home and KitchenBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 54
Appreciation Gifts for Coworkers: What the Branded and Bulk Recall File Shows Giveaway and branded items carry the same rules as retail, and the same recalls Home and KitchenBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 54
Your Next Work Boot Says ASTM F2413-24. The OSHA Rule Still Says 2005 A settled standard with one real change in 2024 Fashion and ApparelBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 54
Desiccant vs Compressor Dehumidifier: What Changes When the Room Is Cold Only one of these three machines is a dehumidifier in federal law Home ImprovementExplainer ● Mainstream 54
What an ANSI Grade 1 Smart Lock Claim Means, and Which Makers Publish a Grade at All A published grade is checkable, and the directory shows how few locks carry one Smart HomeExplainer ● Mainstream 52
Gifts for Someone Who Has Everything: Buy the Replacement, Not the Thing The consumable half of a household is the part no one replaces on schedule Home and KitchenExplainer ● Mainstream 52
Your Tire Warning Light Waits for 25 Percent Underinflation. A Pump in the Trunk Does Not. A legal warning threshold plus fewer spare tires keeps demand steady Auto and EVsTrend Report ● Mainstream 52
The Tariff on Spices Was Struck Down and Refunded. The Spice Rack Still Costs More Seasoning prices are rising more than twice as fast as food at home Food and DrinkExplainer ● Mainstream 52
Baby Walker or Stationary Activity Center: What the Federal Standard and the 2026 Recalls Show A settled category with a steady stream of non-compliant imports Baby and ParentingBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 52
Showerhead Flow Rate Rules in 2026: What the Federal Repeal Changed and What Still Applies The federal definition changed, the 2.5 gallon limit did not, and prices rose anyway Home ImprovementExplainer ● Mainstream 52
Copper Repriced the Dull Half of a Home Studio: Cables, Stands and Adapters Copper is up sharply and tariffed while finished cable prices have moved far less Creators and ContentMarket Shift ● Mainstream 52
Life Jacket Labels Now Carry a Number Instead of a Type: What Level 50, 70 and 100 Mean New labels reached stores from 2025 while every older approved jacket stays legal Sports and RecreationBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 52
School Supply Prices in 2026: The August Dip, the Discount War and One Duty That Never Moved Mild inflation, a deep seasonal dip and one duty that has not moved since 1994 Education and LearningPrice Trail ● Mainstream 52
What a Drain Pump Changes on a Portable Washing Machine The pump is what decides whether a sink counts as a drain Home and KitchenExplainer ● Mainstream 52
Draft Stopper for a Sliding Door: The Leak Is Usually at the Meeting Stile, Not the Floor A certified slider is held to a tighter leakage limit than a certified entry door Home ImprovementBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 52
Under-Desk Ellipticals for Older Buyers: What the Makers Publish and What They Leave Out One maker prints a full engineering table, another prints only a resistance count Work and OfficeBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 52
Luggage Trends 2026: Suitcase Sales Are Slipping While Backpacks and Lifestyle Bags Gain Bags steadily taking share as US suitcase demand stays soft Travel and AdventureMarket Shift ● Mainstream 52
Office Furniture Prices in 2026: Factory Prices Keep Climbing While Retail Desks Get Cheaper Producer prices up about 4 percent a year, retail desk prices down Work and OfficePrice Trail ● Mainstream 52
Medium Firm Is Not a Measurement: What Mattress Makers Actually Publish The only measured firmness number is taken on foam, not on a finished mattress Home and KitchenExplainer ● Mainstream 50
Adaptive Kitchen Tools Are Just Kitchen Tools Now, Which Makes Them Harder to Shop For A mature category with a growing buyer base and one certification with a published test Aging and AccessibilityTrend Report ● Mainstream 50
Sizing a Home Wheelchair Ramp: Where the 1 in 12 Rule Comes From and Where It Stops A stable rule set that most home buyers are applying outside its legal scope Aging and AccessibilityExplainer ● Mainstream 50
Weatherstripping Is the Cheap Retrofit Again: The 30% Credit Ended, Energy Bills Did Not A steady DIY category that keeps its payback without the tax credit Energy and SustainabilityBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 50
Home Gym Flooring in 2026: Rubber Costs Keep Climbing and the Old Price Index Is Gone Steady demand, rising input costs, thinner public price data Fitness and TrainingPrice Trail ● Mainstream 50
Draft Stopper for a Window Sill: Where the Cold Gets In, and What Each Fix Costs in Effort Ranked last by federal guidance for energy impact and first for accessibility Home ImprovementExplainer ● Mainstream 50
Heated Blanket Auto Shut-Off: What UL 964 Covers, and What 16 CPSC Recalls Show A mature shelf with most of its recall record published since 2018 Home and KitchenExplainer ● Mainstream 50
Hybrid Work Has Settled Into a Plateau. The Home Office Is Now an Upgrade Market Flat at about one workday in four, with spending shifting to upgrades Work and OfficeTrend Report ● Mainstream 50
Craft Supply Prices in 2026: Shelf Prices Are Calm and Input Prices Are Not Hobby goods inflation is running below the all-items rate Hobbies and CraftsExplainer ● Mainstream 48
Smart Light Switches Without a Neutral Wire: What Works in an Older House A settled category held back by wiring, not by technology Smart HomeBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 48
Mattress Foundation vs Box Spring: Your Mattress Label May Already Name One Federal law treats a mattress and its foundation as one certified unit Home and KitchenExplainer ● Mainstream 46
Which Wireless Microphone Frequencies Are Legal in the US, and Why It Narrowed The usable band shrank in 2020 and the FCC added a wideband option in 2024 Creators and ContentExplainer ● Mainstream 46
Outage Hours Doubled in 2024. What a Desk Battery Backup Does, and What It Does Not Longer outages, mostly from storms, and a steady desk product Work and OfficeBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 46
Chest Straps Are Still the Reference in 2026, Even as the Best Optical Sensors Catch Up Flat category, still used as the yardstick everything else is measured against Fitness and TrainingExplainer ● Mainstream 46
Mouthguard Rules Dropped the Color Bans and Added an Attachment Ban for 2026 Two sports rewrote mouthguard rules for 2026 while no lab test certifies the product Sports and RecreationExplainer ● Mainstream 46
Joules Are Not the Number on a Surge Protector That Tells You the Most A cluster of power strip recalls for missing basic protection Gaming and EntertainmentExplainer ● Mainstream 46
Furnace Filter Prices Have Barely Moved in Three Years. The MERV Number Is Where the Decision Sits A flat-price category where the specification, not the price, decides the outcome Home ImprovementBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 46
Camping Trends 2026: More Campers, Fewer Trips Each, and a Slump in RV Shipments Participation at a record, trip frequency and RV shipments down Travel and AdventureTrend Report ● Mainstream 46
Air Purifiers Hit a Tougher Federal Efficiency Floor in 2026, Even as DOE Moves to Drop the Rule Tier 2 efficiency floor is live while its repeal is pending Health and WellnessMarket Shift ● Mainstream 46
Do You Need a Shipping Scale? The Postal Rules That Decide It A flat product category with a new penalty attached to guessing Small Business and Side HustlesBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 45
Craft Glue Labels: What Non-Toxic and Conforms to ASTM D-4236 Actually Promise A January 2026 recall shows the label can simply be wrong Hobbies and CraftsBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 45
Shovels, Rakes and Garden Carts Got Pricier While Mowers and Grills Barely Moved A staple category with softer US demand and a harder cost base Garden and BackyardPrice Trail ● Mainstream 45
The Senior Phone in 2026: 5G Flip Phones, Simplified Smartphones and the Plans That Come With Them Most older adults use smartphones, yet dedicated senior phones still get new models Aging and AccessibilityExplainer ● Mainstream 45
Four Office Chair Recalls Since 2024 All Failed at the Same Kind of Joint Recalls keep landing on the backrest and base connections Work and OfficeExplainer ● Mainstream 44
Wiper Blade Prices Barely Moved in 2026, but the Brands Behind Them Changed Owners Flat shelf prices sitting on a supply chain that was rebuilt from scratch Auto and EVsPrice Trail ● Mainstream 44
Is a Cricut Worth It in 2026? Cheaper Machines and a Bigger Push to Subscribe Machine sales are recovering while total revenue still shrinks Hobbies and CraftsBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 44
Pet Food Prices Hit a Record in 2026, Yet Rose Slower Than Overall Inflation Record index level, but only 1.6% above a year earlier PetsPrice Trail ● Mainstream 44
Batteries for Toys in 2026: A Flat Market, Screwed-Down Doors and a Recall Pattern Household battery demand is flat while toy battery rules tighten Collectibles and ToysBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 42
Packing Tape: What the Postal Standards Actually Require on a Box Unchanged rules, rising input prices, and one tape type that is not allowed Small Business and Side HustlesExplainer ● Mainstream 42
Pill Organizers Are the Medicine Container the Child-Resistant Rules Never Reached A flat category with one regulatory hole that has never been filled Health and WellnessBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 42
Why New Gas Cans Pour the Way They Do: The Two Rulebooks Behind the Spout Two federal rulebooks, one spout, and a repeal bill in committee Garden and BackyardExplainer ● Mainstream 42
Headphone and Speaker Prices in 2026: The 24-Year Slide That Stopped A shelf that stopped getting cheaper and then stopped moving at all Tech and GadgetsPrice Trail ● Mainstream 40
Sheets and Towels Cost Less Than in 2022, and the Wholesale Price Says That Is Ending Retail linen prices flat for four years while wholesale textiles climb Home and KitchenBuyer’s Brief ● Mainstream 40
The Number on an Earplug Package Comes From a 1974 Test and a 1979 Label Rule A label rule last amended in 1980, and a replacement proposed in 2009 that never landed Health and WellnessExplainer ● Mainstream 38

Momentum is our editorial reading of the data cited in each report, from 0 to 100. It is not a sales rank and no brand pays for a position. How the Trend Signal is scored.