Americans are building fewer pools in their backyards

• There's sluggishness in the backyard pool industry.
• Consumer spending is slowing, and people already have chemicals stockpiled from previous seasons.
• The pool company Leslie's has been particularly hard-hit, with its stock tumbling 41% over the past month.

As Americans get more price-sensitive, pool retailers are navigating a broad spending slowdown. Other factors such as abnormal weather and leftover supplies from past seasons have decelerated an industry that enjoyed a robust post-COVID boom.