31 states reported month-over-month employment gains in August, while 14 states lost construction sector jobs. Montana, Oklahoma, and Utah each reported no change.
Wood Markets News
Canada’s Unemployment Rate Increases to 5.5% in July—The Third Consecutive Monthly Increase
The number of Canadians receiving regular Employment Insurance (EI) benefits increased by 25,000, or 6.0%, to 438,000 in July.
US National Interagency Fire Center Wildfire Update for the Week Ending September 22nd
As of Friday, September 22nd, 53 large wildfires have burned 440,958 acres in 11 states. Three new large new wildfires were reported on Thursday.
Weyerhaeuser Announces Approval of Its First Forest Carbon Project
Weyerhaeuser has received approval from the American Carbon Registry for its Improved Forest Management (IFM) carbon credit project in Maine.
Existing US Home Sales Decline in August
Total existing home sales declined 0.7% month-over-month in August to a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.04 million homes, the National Association of Realtors reported.
Fixed-Rate Mortgages Creep Higher in the Week Ending September 21st
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 7.19%, up from last week when it averaged 7.18%, according to Freddie Mac.
The Conference Board US Leading Economic Index® Declines Further in August
The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® declined 0.4% in August to a reading of 105.4 (2016=100), after posting a 0.3% decline in July.
US Weekly Jobless Claims Decrease for the Week Ending September 16th
The advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 201,000 during the week ending Saturday, September 16th. This is a decrease of 20,000.
Hughes Pacific Expanding Its Timber Holdings in Canada
Washington-based Hughes Pacific has announced a significant expansion of its forestry operations in western Canada, Canadian Forest Industries (CFI) reported.
Construction Backlog Holds Steady in August
The Associated Builders and Contractors Construction Backlog Indicator declined to 9.2 months in August, down 0.1 month.