HACKETTSTOWN, NJ — There aren’t many bright spots in either the overall economy or a housing market that’s expected to be down again in 2008, but the kitchen and bath industry “is likely to remain in relatively good shape compared to other segments of the construction industry.”

That’s the word from the National Kitchen & Bath Association, which last month issued its annual Kitchen/Bath Industry Outlook, containing two distinctly different forecasts for 2008 – an optimistic, or “soft landing,” and a pessimistic, or “hard landing.”

In general, the kitchen and bath market will continue in 2008 to be supported by a strong foundation for resiliency, if not growth, according to Ed Pell, manager of market research for the Hackettstown, NJ-based NKBA.

“Remodeling is still strong, making up the bulk of the market,” Pell observes. “Dipping home values and prices act as a spur to kitchen and bath remodeling, since consumers trying to sell [tend to] improve their homes in the hope of attracting buyers, and homeowners staying put improve their homes for an enhanced lifestyle and increased home value.”