US home improvement retailer Home Depot cautioned that the US-China trade war meant its sales growth this year would be slower than previously expected, joining a growing list of American companies whose performance is being dented by tariffs.

Home Depot said that its 2019 sales would likely increase by 2.3 per cent from 2018, reflecting “potential impacts to the US consumer arising from recently announced tariffs.” It previously forecast growth of 3.3 per cent. Same-store sales, a crucial metric for retailers, are now expected to grow 4 per cent, down one percentage point from the group’s forecast in May.

The world’s biggest home improvement retailer, which has almost 3,000 stores in 50 states selling everything from kitchens to candles, said its full-year earnings per share would not fall below expectations, however. Chairman, chief executive and president Craig Menear added that the “stable housing market” would continue to support the business.