As of Friday, May 3rd, 8 new large wildfires were reported during the week. Currently, 3 large uncontained wildfires are burning in California, Florida, and Oregon.
Wood Markets News
US Median Home-Sale Price Up 4.8% Year-Over-Year
The median sale price rose to a near-record $383,188 in the four-week period ending April 28th, up 4.8% year-over-year, Redfin reported.
US Construction Sector Employment Cools in April
Construction sector employment increased by 9,000 jobs in April, following a revised gain of 40,000 in March, the BLS and NAHB reported.
US Wood Pellet Exports Expand in March
The US exported 938,662.3 metric tons of wood pellets in March, up from 696,692.9 metric tons of in February, a Biomass Magazine review USDA data shows.
US Nonfarm Payroll Increases by 175,000 in April; Unemployment Increases to 3.9%
Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 175,000 in April. This is below the average monthly gain of 242,000 over the prior 12 months.
Canadian GDP by Province, Territory, and Industry in 2023
For the second consecutive year, real GDP grew in every province in Canada, except Newfoundland and Labrador, albeit at a slower pace than 2022 for most areas.
Canada’s Two Largest Railways Face Work Stoppage in Three Weeks
Employees at Canada’s two largest railway systems have authorized a strike if they are unable to reach a new deal, The Canadian Press reported.
Canadian Residential and Nonresidential Building Construction Costs Increased in Q1
Residential building construction costs increased 0.8% in Q1, following a 1.1% increase in 2024Q4.
Fixed-Rate Mortgages Continue to Trend Higher in the Week Ending May 2nd
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 7.22%, up from last week when it averaged 7.17%, Freddie Mac reported.
Brazilian Exports of Wood-Based Products Decline Year-Over-Year in March
The value of Brazilian exports of wood-based products (except pulp and paper) fell 16.0% year-over-year in March, according to the International Tropical Timber Organization.