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US Housing Starts: July 2019
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,…
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A Slow-Selling Lumber Market Continued Through Mid-August
Just back from Haida Gwaii and still picking the northern Sitka spruce sap out of our hair, Madison’s quotes a large-volume North America softwood lumber trader in describing this mid-summer 2019 construction framing wood demand as a “s-lumber” market. As further sawmill curtailments were announced, specifically (again) in British Columbia, many lumber-selling players literally took…
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Softwood Lumber Sales Tepid as Prices Fall Further
North American softwood lumber traders on both sides of the border described sales as sloppy and “uninspiring.” Lumber demand at the wholesaler level in Canada and the US last week was lackadaisical at best and disinterested at worst. While home construction and sales activity in the US is slowly improving, there has been no increase…
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Madison’s “Movers & Shakers” Softwood Lumber Prices Historical Comparison
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…
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*Sneak Peak* Preview: BC Coast Log Prices
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…
