Wood Markets News


Total Nonfarm Payroll Increases by 194,000 in September; Unemployment Drops to 4.8%

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported today (10-8-21) that total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 194,000 in September. This follows an increase of 235,000 in August, a revised 1.1 million in July, and a revised 962,000 increase in June. Nonfarm payroll employment has increased by 17.4 million since April 2020 but is down by -5.0 million, or -3.3%, from its pre-pandemic level in February 2020.

Sierra Pacific Industries Completes Acquisition of Seneca

Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI), the Anderson California-based forest products company, announced last week that it has completed its acquisition of Seneca, a Eugene Oregon-based company that, prior to the acquisition, had about 400 employees and owned about 167,000 acres of timberlands.

Weekly Jobless Claims Decline in the Week Ending October 2, 2021

The U.S. Department of Labor is reporting that an additional 326,000 Americans made their initial filing for unemployment benefits during the week ending on Saturday, October 2, 2021. This is a decrease of 38,000 from the previous week’s unrevised level. The 4-week moving average was 344,000, an increase of 3,500 from the previous week’s unrevised average.

U.S. Job Cuts Increased 14% in September, Challenger Reports

According to the latest released Job Cut Report from Challenger, Gray & Christmas (CG&C), Inc, a global outplacement and business and executive coaching firm, U.S.-based employers’ announced job cuts rose by 14% in September to 17,985, up from the 24-year low of 15,723 cuts announced in August. September 2021 total is 85% lower than September 2020, when 118,804 cuts were announced.

CalPlant Enters into Plan Support Agreement, Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy while Pursuing Sale of the Company

CalPlant I, LLC (“CalPlant” or the “Company”), a Northern California-based company focused on manufacturing sustainably sourced building products, today (10-5-21) announced it has entered into a Plan Support Agreement (the “PSA”) with its senior bondholders, while pursuing a sale of the Company. To facilitate the sale process and implement the PSA, the Company has voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.

California Governor Vetoes Tropical Deforestation Bill — Cites Added Burden on Small Businesses Trying to Participate in State Contracts

On Wednesday (10-6-21), California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have required businesses selling certain products to the state to prove they’re not contributing to tropical deforestation. Environmental advocates had hoped Newsom would make California the first state to limit contracts to businesses that can prove their supply chains don’t engage in the destruction of tropical forests, which is a major contributor to global climate change.