The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has posted its Job Opening and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) for July 2020. According to the JOLTS report the number of job openings increased to 6.6 million as of the last business day of July.
Wood Markets News
Spread Between Treasury and Mortgage Rate Decreased in August
The spread between the 10-year U.S. Treasury rate and the 30-year fixed-mortgage rate in August was depicted by weekly declines, only to rise minutely by the first week of September.
U.S. Mortgage Forbearance Rate Drops to Lowest Level Since Mid-April
According to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), the U.S. forbearance rate in the last week of August (8/28) fell to the lowest level since mid-April.
Mortgage Lending Sets a 20-year Record in Q2 2020 with $1.1 Trillion in Loans
According to Black Knight, one of the premier providers of integrated technology, data and analytics for lenders and servicers, lenders in the U.S. issued $1.1 trillion dollars in home loads between April and June, marking the biggest quarter in at least two decades.
Mortgage Applications Increase in Week Ending September 4th, 2020
According to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Application Survey, for the week ending September 4th, 2020, the Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 2.9% on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier.
Record High Prices for Construction Grade Panels, Provides Alberta with a New Source of Revenue
As oil and gas prices plunged, the province of Alberta was suffering from a huge decline in revenue funds for their coffers. However, record high prices for construction paneling has created a resource, which for now, is helping to makeup some of those losses.
Initial Reports Indicate Heavy Timber Damage in Louisiana from Hurricane Laura
Early reports from Louisiana in areas battered by Hurricane Laura are indicating that forestland losses will be extensive. There are twisted trees and downed timber and a large-scale assessment is just now getting underway.
Texas A&M University Offers Forestland Owners Help in the Aftermath of Hurricane Laura
Although Hurricane Laura spared most of Texas from her damaging winds and flooding, some parts of Southeast Texas were not as fortunate.
Multiple Wildfires Burning Throughout the Inland Northwest
Television station KREM-2, a CBS affiliate, is reporting that there are multiple wildfires burning throughout the Inland Northwest. The fires started on Labor Day and were the results of extremely windy conditions.
‘Wood CO2ts less’ Campaign Underway in the U.K., to Increase Awareness of Woods Ability to Reduce Carbon Emissions
In the U.K., a campaign is underway to increase the awareness of how using wood from sustainably managed forests can help reduce carbon emissions. The campaign members say that using wood boosts the green credentials of builders and developers.