Wood Markets News


The NFIB’s Small Business Optimism Index Rises 1.9% in August

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) reported today their NFIB Small Business Optimism Index (SBOI) for August 2022. The August SBOI increased 1.9 points to a reading of 91.8; however, it is the eighth consecutive month that the SBOI has been below the 48-year average reading of 98.

EU Parliament to Decide Fate of Biomass Subsidies in Pending Vote

Part of the European Union’s renewable energy directive, the biomass amendments, will be subject to a plenary vote in the European Parliament on Wednesday. Three of the European Parliament’s largest political groups have backed the proposal to end subsidies for biomass used in power plants and exclude primary wood burning from the EU’s renewable energy targets.

Lot Values Set New Record Levels in 2021

According to the US Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction, lot values for single-family detached housing starts in 2021 increased across the country, with the national value in six out of nine Census division setting new records. The US median lot price now stands at $55,000.

Hancock Lumber to Acquire Madison Lumber Mill

On Thursday, Hancock Lumber announced its plans to acquire Madison Lumber Mill, located in Madison, New Hampshire. The sale is expected to close on or before September 30th. Hancock has indicated the mill will continue to operate under the Madison Lumber name.