Japan’s March 2020 imports of plywood rose 21% and there was a 10% month-on-month increase in import volumes as well.
Wood Markets News
Consumer Price Index Posts Third Straight Monthly Decline in May
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is reporting that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) declined -0.1% in May on a seasonally adjusted basis after falling -0.8% in April.
Mortgage Applications Spike in Week Ending June 5th 2020
According to data from the MBA Weekly Mortgage Application Survey, for the week ending June 5th, 2020, the Market Composite Index increased 9.3% on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier.
Roseburg Forest Products Reports Small Fire at Coquille Oregon Facility on Thursday June 4th
Roseburg Forest Products is reporting that there was a small fire at their Coquille, Oregon facility on Thursday afternoon, June 4th.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Reports Construction Sector Layoffs Surged in April
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Job Openings Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS), there was a clear and sudden stop associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the construction labor market.
Total U.S. Consumer Credit Declines Further in April
According to the latest Federal Reserve’s G.19 Consumer Credit Report, consumer credit, excluding loads secured by real estate, decreased at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 19.6%, through April of 2020.
British Columbia Exports Decline 15% in First Quarter of 2020 – Lumber Industry Hit Hard
British Columbia’s exports in the first quarter of 2020 fell by almost -15% when compared to the first quarter of 2019.
National Bureau of Economic Research Confirms U.S. Officially in a Recession
According to the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) the U.S. is now officially in a recession, the worst downturn since the Great Depression.
Canadian Housing Starts and Completion Trend Lower in May
According to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s monthly Starts and Completion Survey for May 2020, the trend in housing starts was 196,750 units in May 2020, down from 198,644 units in April 2020.
Cross-Laminated Timbers to Help Reduce Eastern Washington State’s Forest-Fire Season
Hillary Frantz is the head of the Washington State Commission of Public Lands and she is working diligently to find ways to shorten the state’s forest-fire season, with a special focus on Eastern Washington.