Author: kkosman

  • US Economy: Housing Construction 3Q 2019

    US Townhouse Construction: 3Q 2019 According to US National Association of Home Builders analysis of the most recent US Census Dept data of Starts and Completions by Purpose and Design, townhouse construction may be nearing the end of its recent slowdown, showing relatively flat construction conditions for 3Q 2019. Nonetheless, townhouse construction is set for further…

  • US Housing Starts & Permits Shoot Up, Canada Railway Strike Begins

    An unfortunate truth of life, economics, and physics is that not all things can go up at the same time. Once up, they don’t always stay there. This is a week of mixed news: US home building activity continues to improve, but in Canada forest operators are facing work-stoppage with one of the two railways.…

  • Madison’s Forest Pulse: 3Q 2019

    North America Forest Fibre Flow Update: 3Q 2019Overview November 8th, 2019 “It will become clear after Labour Day if North America construction framing dimension softwood lumber prices are going to soften further, as they usually do in autumn, or if buyers and sellers have indeed found a new floor. — Madison’s Forest Pulse July 13,…

  • CN Rail Job Action: Midnight Monday?

    About 3,200 Canadian National Railway conductors, trainpersons, and yard workers could go on strike just after midnight tonight if a deal isn’t reached with the company, said Canadian Press Monday morning. The Teamsters Canadian Rail Conference, the union representing the employees, gave the required 72-hour notice on the weekend. The union says it hopes to reach…

  • BC Government Invests $27 million to Increase Use of Forest Residuals

    It is widely acknowledged that in British Columbia the utilization of forest residue (wood fibre leftover after timber harvesting) is very low compared to most other jurisdictions. In the past, the cost of moving this cumbersome, oddly-sized material compared to the easy availability of further timber stands, has been the reason for so much of…