Unlike this week’s U.S. Census Bureau’s Housing Starts and Permits report for July, which indicated a strong rebound in residential building, the three private measures of recent and expected nonresidential construction activity were all in the negative.
Wood Markets News
Existing Home Sales Set New Record High in July
The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) is reporting that total existing-home sales on July, set a new monthly record increasing 24.7% above June, to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 5.86 million.
Multifamily Builders Confidence Edges Higher in Q2 but Vacancy Rate Increases
According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Multifamily Production Index (MPI) builders confidence in the market for new multifamily housing increased 10 points to a reading of 37 in the second quarter of 2020.
Townhouse Construction in Q2 Remains Weak
A closer look at the U.S. Census Bureau’s data of Starts and Completions by Purpose and Design, by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reveals that townhouse construction declined during the second quarter of 2020.
Oregon’s Governor Brown Declares State of Emergency due to Imminent Threat of Wildfires in the State
On Wednesday (8/19) Oregon Gov. Kate Brown declared a state of emergency due to what she called the imminent threat of wildfires across the state. In a news release Brown said, much of the state is now in extreme fire danger, and red flag warnings have been issued for hot, dry, windy conditions and dry thunderstorms.
South Korea Extends for 5-years Anti-Dumping Tariffs on Plywood from China and Malaysia
Concluding that plywood products could be dumped into local markets when existing barriers are eliminated, South Korea’s Trade Commission on Thursday (8/20) made a preliminary decision to extend the anti-dumping tariffs on plywood products from China and Malaysia for five years.
Australia’s New South Wales Brushfire Burnt Timbers Finds New Life
Thanks to support from the State of Victoria Government in Australia, millions of tons of plantation timber burnt in the NSW during the summer brushfires that would have gone to waste will now be salvaged and sold.
Spruce Beetle Outbreak in B.C.’s Prince George District is Hitting Local Forests Hard
In the Prince George District of B.C., the spruce beetle continues to wreak its havoc on the local forests.
Yukon Lumber Yards and Builders Deal with Material Shortages and Sky-High Prices
The Yukon, a territory in northwest Canada, is wild, mountainous and has a very tiny population.
FEA’s Weekly Order Survey Participants Respond Favorably to Housing Industry News
Dealers responding to the FEA Weekly Order Survey could not help but feel encouraged by the latest housing industry news. With the Census Bureau reporting that housing starts, and permits both up in July over June and year-over-year.