Softwood lumber prices are a good forward indicator of US home buying activity and house prices. Lumber prices are published every week for that week; housing data comes out monthly with a 2 to 3 month lag. — Madison’s Lumber Prices In July, national home prices in the US continued to grow at the same…

In real terms, US house prices are back to late 2004 levels, and the price-to-rent ratio is back to late 2003, early 2004.

Data released Thursday shows contracts for new, single-family home sales in the US increased in August by +7.1% to a 713,000 seasonally adjusted annual rate, according to estimates from the joint release of HUD and the Census Bureau. For it’s part, the Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI), reported by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), rose +1.6% from 105.6 in…

The full North America softwood lumber price list will be updated as usual first thing tomorrow morning Eastern time, however above is a sneak peak at benchmark WSPF prices. The price of standard 2x4s waffle back downward to 2-week-ago levels, at US$376 mfbm, while all other sizes stay the same except Utility/#3 which loses another…

The purpose of this graph is to show that these three indicators generally reach peaks and troughs together. Note that Residential Investment is quarterly and single-family starts and new home sales are monthly — Calculated Risk From Calculated Risk Monday It is important to remember that new home sales are more relevant for jobs and…

As always Madison’s Lumber Reporter is working hard to bring the best and latest information to the North American softwood lumber manufacturing industry …. today we are happy to reveal that: (prices US$ per msf. stocking wholesaler market in US Northeast / New Jersey) Madison’s Lumber Reporter has secured enough sources to be able to…

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 climbs another +1.6%, or +$6, this week: to US$382 mfbm (net FOB #sawmill), from $376 last week. #building #housing #wood https://madisonsreport.com/lumber-prices/

The WTO panel deciding “US — Countervailing Measures on Softwood Lumber from Canada” (DS533) has decided to open its second substantive meeting to public observation on 16, 17 and 18 October 2019. This live screening will take place at the WTO’s headquarters in Geneva. On 16 and 17 October 2019, the meeting with the parties is…

Single family starts were up +3.4% year-over-year, and multi-family starts were up +13.7% YoY.   Much of the strength for August starts data was in the volatile multi-family sector, still – overall – this was a strong report. In what more than a few analysts are calling “the peak before the crash”, total housing starts…

Sawmillers and loggers alike breathed a sigh of relief last week as North American construction framing dimension softwood lumber prices stopped falling, with several key items recovering from recent lows. Production curtailments over the 2019 building season did well to keep lumber supply tight enough for sawmills last week to push their order files into…