According to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index, which covers all nine U.S. Census divisions, reported today (1-25-22) that home prices experienced a 18.8% annual gain in November. This is down from a 19.0% annual gain in October, which was down from the 19.7% annual gain in September 2021. The 10-City Composite annual increase came in at 16.8%, down from 17.2% in October.
Wood Markets News
Consumer Confidence Declines in January, Ending Three Consecutive Months of Gains
The Conference Board, a non-partisan, not-for-profit think tank founded in 1916, released today (1-25-22) their Consumer Confidence Index® (CCI) for January 2022. The CCI declined in January after an increase in December. The Index now stands at 113.8 (1985=100), down from 115.2 in December. The Present Situation Index — based on consumers’ assessment of current business and labor market conditions — improved to 148.2 from 144.8 in December.
Freddie Mac Predicts Stable Single-Family Housing Market in 2022
Freddie Mac released its new Quarterly Forecast on Friday (1-21-22). The forecast is from Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist Sam Khater, who is predicting that in spite of mortgage interest rates rising, the single-family housing market in 2022 will remain stable. Khater added that rising rates will lead to moderation in homebuyer demand, slowing house price growth somewhat.
China’s Softwood Lumber Imports Declined Year-Over-Year in 2021
China’s imports of softwood lumber in 2021 declined by -26.2% year-over-year to 18.5 thousand m3. The value of those imports decreased by -6.2% to $4.1 billion. The average price of softwood lumber imported into China increased 27% to $222 per m3. This is according to Lesprom Analytics.
Huber Engineered Wood Submits Revised Environmental Assessment Worksheet to the Cohasset, MN City Council
Huber Engineered Woods of Charlotte, NC submitted a revised Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) on Tuesday (1-18-22) to the City of Cohasset, Minnesota. Huber is hoping to win the city’s approval to construct a 750,000 square-foot mill on about 400 acres adjacent to Minnesota Power’s Boswell Energy Center in Cohasset, which was originally announced in June of 2021.
Al Talah Board Company Producing OSB from Recycled Date Palm Tree Waste in the UAE
Al Talah Board Company, with headquarters in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), produced its first branded “Desert Board” OSB on December 14th, 2021. The Desert Board was produced in a new Dieffenbacher plant, which is using recycled date palm tree waste to manufacture the OSB boards. Al Talah Board contracted with Dieffenbacher in 2019 to create the unique OSB plant.
B.C. Becomes Mass Timber Hub of North America — How it All Began
According to Nate Bergen, project development manager at Kinsol Timber Systems, “British Columbia is currently seen as the hub of North America when it comes to mass timber architecture, engineering, and installation.” Bergen goes onto say in his interview with the Daily Hive, that “Aside from all the performance advantages of mass timber, some of the biggest benefits come from the ability to pre-plan and prefabricate mass timber buildings…”
Americans Continue to Place Homeownership on Hold
According to the National Association of Home Builders’ Q4 2021 Housing Trends Report (HTR), the share of U.S. adults planning a home purchase within the next 12 months has fallen for the second consecutive quarter. The share fell from 17% in Q2, to 16% in Q3, to 15% in Q4. The HTR sees more Americans postponing their homeownership plans due to higher home prices and low housing availability — relative to demand.
U.S. to Close Borders to Unvaccinated Canadian and Mexican Truckers Effective Saturday, January 22, 2022
In a statement released on Thursday (1-20-22) Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas, said, “Starting on January 22, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security will require that non-US individuals entering the United States via land ports of entry or ferry terminals along our Northern and Southern borders be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and be prepared to show related proof of vaccination.”
December’s Monthly Forbearance Report Shows Steady Decline in Number of Homeowners Still in Plans
According to the new monthly Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Loan Monitoring Survey (LMS), the total number of loans now in forbearance decreased by 25 basis points from 1.67% of servicers’ portfolio volume in the prior month to 1.41% as of 31st December 2021. The MBA estimates that 705,000 homeowners remain in forbearance plans.