Since our bubble economy is based on inflated housing prices, which produces credit, the government offered stimlus in the for of housing tax credits.  This created another mini-bubble and profits started to tick up.  The article below you will see the details, but a couple highlights:

Third-quarter sales fell 8 percent to $16.4 billion. The average customer ticket in the period dropped 7 percent to $51.89.

On Monday, Home Depot rival Lowe’s Companies Inc. reported its profit for the third quarter dropped nearly 30 percent to $344 million.

Home Depot profit slides in third quarter – Atlanta Business Chronicle:

The article has the usual Love and Light comments for the economy, and prayers to the false gods of money.  Once you get past all of that, think about this: What will happen when the government cannot afford to keep stimulating?  Look for the answer here, CNN: U.S. about to hit debt ceiling – again.