Prices for pulp and paper products increased 1.7% on a monthly basis in June, mainly due to higher prices for wood pulp—up 2.9%.
News in end use
Remodeler Sentiment Holds Steady in Q2
The RMI for Q2 posted a reading of 65, down one point when compared to Q1. The index remains solidly in positive territory.
Investment in Canadian Building Construction Trends Higher in May
Investment in building construction edged up 0.8% month-over-month to $20.8 billion (CAD) in May, rebounding from a 2.0% decrease in April.
Fannie Mae Reports 6.9% Annual Increase in Q2 Single-Family Home Prices
The FNM-HPI shows single-family home prices increased 6.9%, down from the previous quarter’s upwardly revised annual growth rate of 7.3%.
Fixed-Rate Mortgages Continue to Fall in the Week Ending July 18th
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.77%, down from last week when it averaged 6.89%, Freddie Mac reported.
Mortgage Applications for New Home Purchases Decline in June
Mortgage applications for new home purchases decreased 16.0% month-over-month in June but were up 0.7% year-over-year, MBA reported.
The Conference Board US Leading Economic Index Continues to Slow in June
The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) decreased 0.2% in June to a reading of 101.1, following a 0.4% decline (upwardly revised) in May.
US Weekly Initial Jobless Claims Increase in the Week Ending July 13th
The advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 243,000, an increase of 20,000 from the previous week’s revised level.
US Housing Starts, Building Permits, and Completions All Rise in June
Privately‐owned housing starts were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,353,000 in June. This is 3.0% above the revised May estimate of 1,314,000.
Canada Unveils Country’s First Green Buildings Strategy
The CGBS will drive energy efficiency improvements in Canadians’ homes and buildings, with a key focus on addressing affordability and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.