A deeper dive into housing permits for March 2020, and the first quarter of 2020, reveals a robust start of the year for permits.
Wood Markets News
2020 Wildfire Season Plan – More Aircraft, Fewer Crews
Authorities are changing their strategies for fighting wildfires to reduce manpower requirements and limit crews to the COVID-19 virus.
Layoffs in the Construction Sector Soar in March
According to the BLS, there were 618,000 layoffs in the construction sector during March 2020.
Mortgage Delinquencies Grow in First Quarter of 2020
The delinquency rate for mortgage loans on one-to-four-unit residential properties increased to a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.36% of all loans outstanding at the end of the first quarter of 2020.
Consumer Confidence Comfort Index Declines for Eighth Week in a Row
U.S. household sentiment declined, although at a slower pace, for the eighth straight week in a row.
COVID-19 Pandemic is Slowing Arkansas Timber Industry Recovery
Arkansas is a state with vast timber resources and harvests more than 24 million tons of timber per year.
FEA’s Weekly Order Survey – May Sales Not as Strong as in April
Dealers are reporting that, to date, their May sales are OK. However, they are definitely not as strong as they were in April.
Mortgage Rates Continue to Hold Steady
The PMMS shows that 30-year fixed-mortgage rate averaged 3.28% with an average 0.7 point, up slightly from last week when it averaged 3.26%.
Builders and Developers Report Credit Criteria Tightening During First Quarter of 2020
Builders and developers are reporting tighter credit conditions for land acquisition, development, and single-family home construction (AD&C).
Lumber and Building Materials Prices Post Record Monthly Decline in April
According to the latest Producer Price Index (PPI) report, prices (not seasonally adjusted) paid for goods used in residential construction decreased -4.1% in April.