After a ghastly 2006, the DIY market has stabilised. But it's done no more than that and the long weekend ahead will be a test of whether shoppers' appetite for home improvement has really returned, or just bottomed out.
The daddy of them all, Kingfisher's B&Q, has returned to form under chief executive Ian Cheshire. The stores are looking better and the mood within the business has discernibly improved. With Kingfisher well and truly on the private equity radar, last week's trading statement offered a glimmer of hope that things are improving. A strong Easter would certainly give more encouragement to the circling raiders.
Market sources say Homebase's performance was flattered by its eye-catching trading update last month and Easter will be a test to the Argos-owned chain's recovery. Its shift towards the softer end of the home market has been applauded, but Easter is traditionally when home-makers turn to the garden and the harder end of DIY, so it will need to make sure it is equally strong in that area too.
As for Focus, the situation remains critical as it continues to talk to distressed debt specialist Cerberus about a deal. While its core estate is understood to be fundamentally sound, the big challenge is what to do with a rump of stores that are beyond redemption.
With the weather set to be fair, it will be all hands on deck as DIY's very own Christmas gets into full swing.
A move to Marks & Spencer would have been the latest sign of Terry Green's rehabilitation. To his credit, Green has bounced back from the collapse of Allders, never shirking the criticism that came his way and taking the opportunity offered to him by Tesco with both hands.
All the talk about Green's possible move this week will have been great for his bank balance, as it gave his boss Sir Terry Leahy no option but to give him a big pay rise - thanks indeed for offering him a route back into retail. For M&S chief Stuart Rose, not only has he lost out on Green, but he also has to explain to his senior team why he thought it was necessary to bring him in and create a new role for him.
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