Home Depot, the leading home improvement retailer, reported a disappointing earnings report, with sales 2.7% below Wall Street's estimates. This decline is significant for the broader market, as the retailer holds substantial weight in the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500. Comparable sales also declined by 4.5%, transaction volume fell by 4.8%, and average ticket size remained relatively flat. Home Depot has lowered its full-year projections for EPS and revenue growth due to the weak first quarter and continued uncertainty surrounding consumer demand.