Since mid-April 2020, the average lumber prices have surged an amazing 80%. Moving from a low of $348 per thousand board feet (MBM) to $ 627 MBM as of July 31st.
News in covid 19
Canadian Housing Starts Jump 16% in July
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) is reporting that the annual pace of housing starts in July rose nearly 16% when compared with June.
Redfin Reports Bidding War on Homes Intensified in July
Redfin, the Seattle-based real estate brokerage is reporting that for the third straight month, more than half of its home offers faced competition (bidding war) in July.
COVID-19 Pandemic Slows Global Construction Activity in Q2 of 2020
According to the latest RICS Global Construction Monitor for Q2 2020, construction activity contracted across all region in Q2 due to the lockdowns to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus and the impact of social distancing on jobsite activity.
Job Opening and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) for June 2020
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has posted its Job Opening and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) for June 2020. According to the JOLTS report the number of job openings increased to 5.9 million as of the last business day of June.
Nonfarm Payroll Employment Increases by 1.8 million in July
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is reporting that total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 1.8 million in July.
FEA’s Weekly Order Survey Respondents are Reporting Their Sales Continue to Accelerate
Dealers responding to this week’s Weekly Order Survey remain positive about their current business’ status and are reporting that their sales continue to accelerate.
Freres Lumber Company Struggling to Find New Employees
Freres Lumber Co., Inc, headquartered in Lyons Oregon, has a unique and frustrating problem.
Mortgage Loans in Forbearance Decrease for Seventh Week in a Row
The Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Forbearance and Call Volume Survey for July 26th, reports that the total number of loans now in forbearance decreased by 7 basis points from 7.74% of servicers’ portfolio volume in the prior week to 7.67% as of July 26th, 2020.
Construction Output in Second Quarter of 2020 Significantly Slows Due to COVID-19 Pandemic
According to The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), Chief Economist Anirban Baus, the “ABC’s Construction Confidence Index indicated that a majority of contractors suffered some form of interruption to their activities during the second quarter of 2020, whether due to a lack of available inputs as global supply chains buckled, project postponements or cancellations, jobsite workforce issues or state and local government mandates.”