Swimming pool sales are treading water against the rising tide of a poor economy and high fuel prices, but are staying afloat hanks to homeowners who are spending money at home instead of traveling.

"My husband wants a pool -- one of at least 25 to 30 feet," Gloria Guadagno, of Merrillville, said while shopping at The Great Escape in Merrillville. "The kids are still pretty small, but we might get one next year. It gives me the winter to research it."

Rick Seifert, general manager of the store that sells pools, hot tubs, patio furniture and home leisure items, said sales "aren't booming, but just OK."

"I've been in this business since 1991," he said. "It's always peaks and valleys."

The Merrillville store is one of the company 24 locations, which increases its public recognition. A recent store renovation has made its pools visible from U.S. 30, which has strengthened advertising, Seifert said. The average cost of the store's above-ground pool is $3,000, including installation, he said

"I'm finding things are flat. OK, but flat," Seifert said. "We're not taking a bath by no means. Gas prices are a double-edged sword. When the economy isn't so good, above-ground pool sales compete with vacations. But many people stay home and make improvements to their homes rather then spending money on a vacation."

He said the weather, as much as the economy and gasoline prices, plays a role in pool sales. The sooner in the spring that it gets hot, the better, Seifert said.

"We had the weather working against us this year," he said. "It's the 11th-coldest May and June on record, which slowed sales. When it's hot, you have your share of impulse buyers ... Pre-Memorial Day heat sets up the season. This year April was not good and May was even worse."

The sale of swimmingly pools these days is "challenging for everybody," said Dick Wolfe, spokesman for the Virginia-based Association of Pool & Spa Professionals. Statistics aren't compiled until year's end, Wolfe said.

Sales of above-ground pools have slowed with the economy, said Burnise Young, manager of American Sales in Lansing. The company also has locations in Merrillville and five other Illinois communities.

"Traffic is really down this year," he said. "I think it's really gas prices and the whole economy. We were hoping earlier in the year that more people would put in pools because they aren't taking vacations, but it hasn't panned out."

Above-ground pools can be as inexpensive as $50 for a blow-up pool or as much as $10,000, Young said.

In-ground pool sales have been steady, according to John Bartolomeo, general sales manager for Caribbean Pools Inc. The company, which has locations in Schererville and Orland Park, doesn't sell above-ground pools.

"At the beginning of the year, sales were affected and for a bit we struggled. But over the past two months, it turned around and our numbers are where they were last year," he said.

More pools currently are being built at existing homes rather than with new construction as they had been for the past few years, Bartolomeo said.

"We've always done a lot of new construction. But in general, building permits for new construction are down, while permits for re-dos are way up way up," he said. "People are deciding to stay in their homes and do improvements, so pool business has picked up in existing homes."

The average price of an in-ground pool with a cover for an existing home is $50,000, Bartolomeo said.

"I don't think the economy affects those who are putting in an in-ground pool. I think a lot of people who have money and are interested in putting in a pool just do it."