US pending home sales fell 1.9% week-over-week to their lowest level in records dating back to 2021, while mortgage rates remained elevated at 7.4%, Redfin reported.
Wood Markets News
Trump Modifies Section 338 Tariffs on Canadian Products, Removing Certain Plywood and Paper Products
President Trump modified Section 338 tariffs on Canadian products, removing certain plywood, paper products, and other goods. Changes are effective October 30.
BC Specialty Sawmill Temporarily Closes While Awaiting Freeze-Up to Resume Logging
BC’s Valemount Specialty Mill has temporarily suspended operations for an estimated two months while awaiting freezing conditions to resume hemlock harvesting, The Rocky Mountain Goat reported.
Canadian Rail Freight Volume Rises 8.0% Year-Over-Year in August
Canadian railways transported 32.8 million tons of freight in August, up 8.0% year-over-year and above the five-year average of 30.4 million tons for the month.
Atlas Commissions Canada’s First Robotic Roof Truss Manufacturing Line in Ontario
Atlas Engineered Products has commissioned Canada’s first robotic roof truss manufacturing line at its new 42,000-square-foot automation facility, Ontario Construction News reported.
Arkansas Mass Timber Junior High Completes Primary Structure
Construction crews completed the primary mass timber structure of Fayetteville’s new 160,000-square-foot Woodland Junior High School, the Fayetteville Flyer reported.
Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity Points to Slow Growth Into 2027
Harvard’s LIRA forecasts homeowner remodeling spending growth will remain sluggish, reaching just 1.5% year-over-year in 2027Q3, with annual spending near $525 billion.
Weak Markets Leave Some US Forest Service Timber Sales Without Bids
The US Forest Service received no bids for 267 million board feet of timber in the first three quarters of fiscal 2026, GV News and The New York Times reported.
State-Level Construction Employment Data for September
Construction employment rose across 25 states in September, with the industry overall adding 11,000 jobs, the BLS and NAHB reported.
US Market Share of Modular and Other Off-Site-Built Housing Holds Steady in 2025
The US market share of modular and panelized single-family homes held steady at 3.0% in 2025, with approximately 30,000 homes completed, NAHB reported.