The Federal Reserve concluded its 2-day Federal Open Market Committee meeting on Wednesday June 6th and at its conclusion announced that it will hold interest rates near zero.
Wood Markets News
Stora Enos and Latvijas Finieris Have Developed a Lignin-Based Resin for Plywood
Collaborating since 2017, Latvijas Finieris and Stora Enso have been working on developing a lignin-based resin ideal for plywood products.
Japan’s Plywood Imports Increased Significantly in March 2020
Japan’s March 2020 imports of plywood rose 21% and there was a 10% month-on-month increase in import volumes as well.
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.