Prices for lumber and other wood products fell 3.4%, mainly on lower prices for softwood lumber, down 7.8%.
News in end use
State-Level Construction Employment Analysis for July
Overall, the construction industry added a net 25,000 jobs in July compared to the previous month, the BLS and NAHB reported.
Mortgage Applications Decline in the Week Ending August 16th
Mortgage loan application volume declined 10.1% on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier, MBA reported.
US Home Prices Increase 0.2% in July, The Smallest Month-Over-Month Increase Since January 2023
The Redfin Home Price Index ticked up 0.2% for the second consecutive month in July, on a seasonally adjusted basis. On a year-over-year basis, home prices rose 6.8%.
Canadian New-Home Prices Edge Higher in July
The national index edged up 0.2% month-over-month in July. Year-over-year, the index increased 0.1% July.
Single-Family Built-For-Rent Construction Posts Year-Over-Year Gain in Q2
There were approximately 23,000 SFBFR starts during Q2, almost 10% higher than 2023Q2, the Census Bureau and NAHB reported. Over the last four quarters, 83,000 such homes began construction.
Canadian Consumer Price Index Increases at Slowest Pace Since March 2021
The CPI increased 2.5% year-over-year in July. The increase was at the slowest pace since March 2021 and was down from a 2.7% gain in June.
Investment in Canadian Building Construction Rises in June
Investment in building construction grew 2.8% to $21.4 billion (CAD) in June, following a modest increase of 0.8% in May.
The Conference Board US Leading Economic Index Slows Further in July
The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® fell by 0.6% in July to a reading of 100.4 (2016=100), following a decline of 0.2% in June.
Townhouse Construction Continues to Expand in Q2
Single-family attached starts totaled 42,000 in Q2, 8% higher than 2023Q2, the Census Bureau and NAHB reported.