EDITORIAL

A rose by any other name

For those inclined to think the bloom is off the home improvement rose, new studies forecast a continued flowering for do-it-yourself and fix-up in general.

The numbers are encouraging for anyone Providing anything from 2x4s to the fanciest high tech home products.

Home improvement expenditures are expected to increase a healthy 6.4Vo per year, exceeding an astonishing $160 billion annually by the year 2000, according to the Freedonia Group, Inc. This market, their latest study poins out, will also benefit from increasing home turnover, the continued expansion of the d-i-y market and rising costs associated with new construction.

Additionally, American homes continue to age' meaning that more and more money must be spent simply to maintain them in adequate condition. This, coupled with the natural desire of homeowners to change their dwelling to conform to their tastes, means added impetus for home improvement. Energy considerations alone will drive this market as homeowners and commercial building landlords upgrade properties to take advantage of new energy-efficient products to save money. Sometimes perfectly good homes