Existing-home sales in Canada held steady in March and the sales-to-new listings ratio remained at 47.8%, CREA reported.
Wood Markets News
US Weekly Initial Jobless Claims Decline in the Week Ending April 11
The advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 207,000, a decrease of 11,000 from the previous week.
USDA Announces $11.9 Million Loan Guarantee for Maine Plywood Facility Conversion
The USDA is backing an $11.9 million loan for Maine Plywood USA to convert a Maine sawmill into a hardwood plywood facility.
US Builder Confidence for Newly Built Single-Family Homes Falls in April
The NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index fell to 34 in April, down from 38 in March and marking 24 consecutive months in negative territory.
US Endowment for Forestry and Communities Announces $5 Million Funding Initiative for Wood Fiber Markets
The US Endowment for Forestry and Communities launched a $5 million initiative to connect underutilized wood fiber with new buyers and strengthen supply chains.
US Mortgage Applications Increase in the Week Ending April 10
Mortgage loan application volume increased 1.8% on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier, MBA reported.
Sweden’s Mellanskog Reduces Timber Prices
Mellanskog is reducing timber prices by 30–150 SEK per cubic meter in Sweden across key product categories, citing weaker market conditions.
US New-Home Purchase Mortgage Applications Soar in March
Mortgage applications for new-home purchases increased 26% in March and were up 11% year-over-year, MBA reported.
Value of Canadian Building Permits Falls in February
The total value of Canadian building permits fell 8.4% to CA$12.1 billion in February, with residential up slightly and nonresidential sharply lower.
US Producer Price Index for Final Demand Increases 0.5% in March
US producer prices rose 0.5% in March, driven by a 1.6% increase in goods, while services were unchanged. Year-over-year, prices increased 4.0%.