Although the weather outside the Las Vegas Convention Center has been warm and sunny, the current economic crisis has cast a dark shadow over the 2009 International Builders' Show. From what I've seen and heard so far, show attendance is noticeably down from recent years, and there appear to be fewer exhibitors and media members. The U.S. building industry has been hit hard, and everyone I've spoken with at the show says sales of the materials and products used to build and fill homes have dropped significantly. Even such Builders' Show regulars from the tool industry, including Bosch, DeWalt, Hitachi, Makita, Milwaukee, Ridgid, and Ryobi, have stayed home this year.

The major-appliance manufacturers I've met with report that sales figures are off by 10 to 30 percent in some categories, but they also say sales of certain products are decent even in these tough times, including dual-oven freestanding ranges, bottom-mount French-door refrigerators, and washers and dryers with steam. My contacts also note a shift to "value"—read: less expensive—products.

Sales of generators are also apparently strong, as consumers, having witnessed heavy storm activity in recent years and some brutal weather so far this winter, are hot for backup-power supplies. Kohler is showing what it calls the OnCue system, which the manufacturer claims contact you on your cell phone when the power gets interrupted; the system is also designed to let you monitor the status of the generator from afar via the Web.

Briggs & Stratton and GE have introduced the GE Home Generator Systems line, to be sold at Home Depot (the 10,000-watt model is shown). The companies say the units come with an automatic transfer switch designed to automatically start the generator when power is down.

Generac has rolled out a new line of portable generators pegged as an affordable emergency-power solution. The line, available now at Lowe's and Ace/True Value retailers, includes a 3,000-watt model ($400) and a 5,000-watt unit ($650).—Michael DiLauro, Product-Information Specialist

Essential information: Read more about tools and power equipment and home-use generators.