Below are some cogent thoughts on the current lumber market today, from an economist at Seeking Alpha:https://seekingalpha.com/article/4291207-lumber-sits-waits-wood-follows-price-futures “Lumber is just below its midpoint for 2019“, Seeking Alpha. So far in 2019, the price of nearby lumber futures has traded on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange in a range from US$286.10 to US$453.90 per 1,000 board feet. At US$374.50 on September 12 on the nearby November contract, the price of the wood futures was a bit above the midpoint for this year…

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Prices paid for goods used in residential construction in the US decreased by 0.8% in August (not seasonally adjusted) according to the latest Producer Price Index (PPI) released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, said the National Association of Home Builders Eye on Housing Tuesday. Building materials prices in the US have declined an average of 0.1% per month over the last 12 months, compared to an average monthly increase of 0.8% during the same period 2017-2018. The price of goods used…

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Data from the BLS Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) indicate that US construction job openings increased in July, after a declines off a cycle high count for April, said the National Association of Home Builders Eye on Housing Tuesday. The estimated number of US job openings in the construction sector increased to 373,000 in July after reaching a post-Great Recession high of 434,000 in April. The July 2019 count of unfilled jobs represents a year-over-year gain relative to the 314,000…

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National home price appreciation in the US continued to slow in June. Three metro areas, including New York, Miami and Seattle, experienced home price declines for the month. The Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index, reported by S&P Dow Jones Indices Thursday slowed to a 1.9% seasonally adjusted annual growth rate in June, from 2.4% in May. On a year-over-year basis, the Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index posted a 3.1% annual gain in June, down from 3.3% in May. It…

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Western Spruce-Pine-Fir KD 2×4 #2&btr wholesaler price this week: US$376 mfbm (net FOB #sawmill) Wholesaler price of benchmark North American #construction framing #softwood dimension #lumber item Western Spruce-Pine-Fir KD 2×4 #2&btr rebounds +1.6%, or +$6, this week: to US$376 mfbm (net FOB #sawmill) from $370 last week. #building #housing #woodhttps://madisonsreport.com/lumber-prices/

The price of benchmark lumber commodity Western Spruce-Pine-Fir KD 2×4 #2&Btr last week gained $4, or 1.2%, to close the week at US$346 mfbm compared to $342 the week before.

According to estimates from the US Housing and Urban Development and the US Commerce Department, total housing starts in the US were down -4% in July, but that decline was concentrated in the multifamily sector as forward-looking rental demand softened on gains for for-sale housing affordability.Multifamily starts (2+ unit production) were off -16% in July, while 5+ unit production is down -2.3% on a year-to-date basis. However, 5+ unit multifamily permits posted a large gain in July, rising +25% to…

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Madison’s weekly “Movers & Shakers” softwood lumber prices historical comparison table uploaded for this week: Lackadaisical activity persisted as the Eastern Canadian construction holiday began. — Madison’s Lumber Reporter Western SPF: USA Uninspiring According to Western Spruce-Pine-Fir purveyors in the United States, last week was another example of the sloppy market that has developed over the month of July. Consumer confidence remained low and customers weren’t interested in buying any further out than one or two weeks, which also happened…

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Total corroboration from Japan of the BC coast log prices Madison’s has been printing. Some insights into the North American log sales market are provided in the latest issue of Japan Lumber Reports: “Export prices of Douglas fir logs for July shipment are $20 down on 12” and up logs, while 8-11” log prices remain unchanged. North America lumber market is rebounding but log market does not reflect any movement so North America log export continues buyers’ market. Japan domestic…

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