As my colleague Morgan Brenan has explained, Hurricane Sandy was expected to take its toll on housing and construction, which could exacerbate seasonal slowness characteristic of the winter season.

FORBES: Watch Out With Housing: Disapointing Sales And Sandy Reveal Weak Recovery

Spring marks the peak selling season for home improvement retailers with home construction and rebuilding activity picking up after the long, hard winter.

FORBES: Why Home Depot And Lowe's Sales Will Heat Up In 2013