Freddie Mac has released its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) for the week ending 11th March 2021. The PMMS reports that 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.05% with an average 0.6 point, up from last week when it averaged 3.02%. A year ago, at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 3.36%.
Wood Markets News
Job Opening and Labor Turnover Survey for January 2021
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) today (3-12-21) posted its Job Opening and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) for January 2021. According to the JOLTS report, as of the last business day in January, the number and rate of job openings were little changed at 6.9 million and 4.6% respectively.
Weekly Jobless Claims Decline in the Week Ending March 6th, 2021
The U.S. Department of Labor is reporting that an additional 712,000 Americans made their initial filing for unemployment benefits during the week ending on Saturday March 6th, 2021. A decrease of 42,000 from the previous week’s revised level.
Roseburg Announces the Addition of SFI Certification on Select Western Manufactured Products
Roseburg has announced the addition of Sustainable Forest Initiative® (SFI) certification for select products manufactured at its Oregon and California facilities. Roseburg owns and manages 158,000 acres of SFI-certified timberland in North Carolina and Virginia.
Belarusian Sawmill Kimabel to Add New Timber Sorting Line
The installation of a new timber sorting line, costing as much €3 million, is the latest step in the modernization of the woodworking enterprise OOO KimaBel in Polotsk District, Vitebsk Oblast. The sophisticated timber conversion line can process even round wood that has defects.
The Associated Builders and Contractors Construction Backlog Indicator Rises Sharply in February
A survey of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) members conducted between February 22 and March 3, 2021 reports that the ABC Construction Backlog Indicator rose to 8.2 months in February.
Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers Increased Year-Over-Year 1.7% and 0.4% in February
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is reporting that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.4% in February on a seasonally adjusted basis after rising 0.3% in January.
Fire Crews Respond to Carrier Lumber Ltd., Tabor Sawmill in Prince George B.C.
According to the Regional District of Fraser Fort-George, a fire was reported about 10:30 PM at the Carrier Lumber Ltd., Tabor sawmill located on Willowcale Road, on Tuesday, March 9, 2021.
Mortgage Applications Decrease in the Week Ending March 5, 2021
According to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Application Survey, for the week ending March 5, 2021, the Market Composite Index — a measure of mortgage loan application volume — decreased -1.3% on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier.
Mortgage Credit Availability Index Unchanged in February, Remains Close to Lowest Level Since 2014
According to the latest Mortgage Credit Availability Index (MCAI), mortgage credit availability remained unchanged at 124.6 in February. A decline in the MCAI indicates that lending standards are tightening, while increases in the index are indicative of loosening credit.