A new report from PricewaterhouseCoopers predicts a bleaker 2008 and ’09 for the hotel industry than originally forecast. The firm says RevPAR growth for this year will be a slim 0.4 percent, well below the 5.7-percent growth registered last year and the record-setting increases of 2005 and ’06.

Occupancy for the year will be 61.0 percent, says PwC, down 2.1 percentage points from last year. Average rates should grow by a respectable 3.8 percent, well off the 7.5 and 6.0 percent increases seen in 2006 and 2007, respectively.

The occupancy slide will ease somewhat next year, dipping to 60.6 percent. Rates will increase by 2.3 percent, and RevPAR will grow by 1.5 percent.

“The convergence of increased gas prices, reduced airline capacities and declining consumer confidence are contributing to this expected slowdown in the U.S. lodging industry,” says Scott Berman, principal and U.S. advisory leader in PwC’s Hospitality and Leisure practice.