The construction industry added a net 26,000 jobs in March, the BLS and NAHB reported.
Wood Markets News
US Mortgage Applications Fall in the Week Ending May 1
Mortgage loan application volume decreased 4.4% on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier, MBA reported.
US National Median Rent Ticks Higher in April
The national median rent rose 0.5% in April to $1,370, although rents remained down 1.7% year-over-year, Apartment List reported.
ADP: Private Sector Employment and Compensation Increase in April
Private sector employment increased by 109,000 in April, while annual pay rose 4.4%, ADP reported.
US New Single-Family Home Sales Climb in March
New residential single-family home sales were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 682,000 in March, 7.4% above the February rate.
Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity Points to Slowing Growth Into Early 2027
The LIRA forecasts annual growth in homeowner remodeling spending will slow to 0.5% by 2027Q1, with total expenditures reaching about $523 billion.
US Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary for March
US job openings were little changed at 6.9 million in March, while hires rose to 5.6 million and separations held at 5.4 million.
Sweden’s JGA Sawmill Group Receives Expanded Production Permit
JGA’s new production permit allows annual output of up to 400,000 cubic meters of sawn timber at its Linneryd facility in Sweden.
Russia’s Forestry Industry Remains Under Pressure from Sanctions and Aging Machinery
Russia’s timber volumes for sale fell 10% in 2025 to 176 million cubic meters, the weakest level since the start of the war in Ukraine.
Conifex to Temporarily Curtail Mackenzie, BC, Sawmill
Conifex will curtail operations at its Mackenzie, BC, sawmill for about seven weeks starting May 19, citing fiber constraints and seasonal logging conditions.