If you’ve been thinking about a renovation, there really is no time like the present.
 
Annual U.S. spending on home improvement is expected to reach $130 million next year, according to the latest Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity index from Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies. The double-digit growth over 2010 spending could mean an end to hungry contractors and hot deals on products and materials.

“The recovery in home improvement activity appears to be moving beyond simple replacement projects and energy retrofits to broader remodels and upgrades,” said JCHS director Kermit Baker, in a news release. “A wider activity base would help generate the expected growth in the quarters ahead.”

The August 2010 issue of Consumer Reports includes a special package on kitchen remodeling, with reviews on appliances, flooring, and countertops, as well as the best places to shop for your project.

—Daniel DiClerico