Author: kkosman

*** BREAKING NEWS *** The United Steelworkers have issued 72-hour strike notice to Interior Forest Labour Relations Association, the employer bargaining group for the south interior of British Columbia. Last week there was rotating strikes in the north interior of British Columbia, which affected several sawmill operators. Picket lines went up outside Canfor’s Prince George…

Nationally, home price appreciation continued in August. Based on a seasonally adjusted annual growth rate, home prices in Seattle, New York and San Diego declined faster in August than in July. Home prices in New York has decreased for the fifth consecutive month. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index, reported by S&P…

The latest data on US housing starts and home building has provided some insight into the current state of this very important sector for the general US economy. As one of the most important inputs into new home building costs, North American softwood lumber prices are an excellent indicator of near- and mid-term expectations for…

Circumstances for North America softwood lumber and panel production and sales changed dramatically since summer. To say it was a complete reversal is not an overstatement. Since Labour Day, the supply-demand balance tilted completely in favour of customers; as sawmills were replete with both lumber inventory and log supply, while order files were a scant…

Pending home sales in the US increased in September, but have decreased on an annual basis for nine consecutive months, said the National Association of Home Builders Friday. The Pending Home Sales Index increased 0.5% in September, but remains down 1.0% year-over-year. The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI) is a forward-looking indicator based on signed…