Even as cash-for-clunkers legislation aimed at resuscitating the struggling U.S. auto industry winds its way through Congress, many Americans looking to save money are holding on to—and putting repair money into—their cars and trucks rather than buying new ones.

A similar storyline is unfolding for home appliances at a time when the industry is experiencing a 12 percent year-over-year decline in major-appliance shipments. "Appliance Anxiety: Replace It or Fix It?" in yesterday's Home section of The New York Times, covered the repair-it-rather-than-replace-it trend and included the story of a 53-year-old mother of four who decided to shell out $239 to repair her clothes washer rather than spend about $400 for a new machine. This blog has also covered the apparent shift among budget-conscious consumers who are choosing to fix their appliances rather than buy new models.

The Times' articles relied on data from the Consumer Reports Annual Product Reliability Survey, conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center. If you're trying to determine what to do with your appliances, read our fix-it-or-nix-it report (available to subscribers), which features a repair-or-replace timeline for 15 appliances.

If you're planning a kitchen or bathroom remodel, check out the August 2009 issue of Consumer Reports, online and on newsstands in July. You'll find our testing-based product reports, including coverage of all major kitchen appliances as well as toilets and showerheads.—Daniel DiClerico | e-mail | Twitter | Forums

Essential information: Visit our appliances hub for links to buying advice, ratings, and brand-reliability data on a range of household gear. And read about a proposed cash-for-clunkers bill for home appliances.