Investment in Canadian building construction declined 1.1% month-over-month to $19.3 billion in February.
Wood Markets News
Europe’s Pfeifer Group Optimizing Facilities to Meet Market Demand
Pfeifer Group has optimized manufacturing at its sawmill in Chanovice, Czech Republic, and its CLT facility in Schlitz, Germany, according to the Timber Trades Journal.
US Median Home Sales Price Increases 5% Year-Over-Year—Just Shy of All-Time High
The median price increased 5% year-over-year to $380,250, just $3,095 shy of the all-time high in June 2022.
State-Level Analysis of Construction Sector Employment for March
36 states and DC saw month-over-month gains in March, the BLS and NAHB reported. Overall, the industry added a net 39,000 jobs.
30-Year Fixed-Rate Mortgages Surpass 7%
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 7.10%, up from last week when it averaged 6.88%, Freddie Mac reported.
US Existing-Home Sales Decline Month-Over-Month and Year-Over-Year in March
US existing-home sales fell 4.3% month-over-month in March to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.19 million, NAR reported.
The Conference Board US Leading Economic Index® Declines Unexpectedly in March
The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) decreased 0.3% in March, following a 0.2% increase in February.
Western Australia Releases Forest Management Plan 2024–33 With Help to Alleviate End of Native Logging
Western Australia’s Forest Management Plan 2024–33 will be bolstered with a $67.2 million (AUD) investment over the next four years.
Delinquency Rates on Mortgages Backed by Office Properties Continue to Rise in Q1
Delinquency rates overall for mortgages backed by commercial properties were unchanged in Q1, the MBA reported.
US Weekly Jobless Claims Unchanged in the Week Ending April 13th
The advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 212,000, unchanged from the previous week’s revised level.