The MBA’s Purchase Applications Payment Index rose 0.8% to a reading of 174.2 in March, up from February’s reading of 172.8.
Wood Markets News
Personal Income, Disposable Income, and Personal Consumption Expenditures All Increase in March
Personal income increased 0.5% month-over-month in March; disposable personal income increased 0.5%; and personal consumption expenditures increased 0.8%.
University of Michigan Reports Final Results of Its Consumer Sentiment Index for April
The University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment declined to a reading of 77.2 in March, a month-over-month decline of 2.8% but up 21.2% year-over-year.
GP’s Albany, GA, Lumber Mill Produces 1 Billion Board Feet in Just Four Years
Georgia-Pacific’s Albany, Geogia, sawmill produced its 1 billionth board foot of lumber just four years after the facility opened in 2020.
US Pending Home Sales Climb 3.4% in March
The National Association of Realtors Pending Homes Sales Index was 3.4% higher in March, rising to a reading of 78.2.
Fixed-Rate Mortgages Continue to Trend Higher in the Week Ending April 25th
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 7.17%, up from last week when it averaged 7.10%, Freddie Mac reported.
Real GDP Increases at an Annual Rate of 1.6% in Q1, BEA Reports in Its “Advance” Estimate
GDP increased at an annual rate of 1.6% in Q1, following a reported real GDP increase of 3.4% in 2023Q4.
US Weekly Jobless Claims Decline in the Week Ending April 20th
The advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 207,000, a decrease of 5,000 from the previous week.
Canadian Payroll and Job Vacancy Report for February
The number of Canadian employees receiving pay and benefits from their employers fell by 17,700, or 0.1%, in February.
Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity Shows Home Improvements Spending Declining Through 2025Q1
Annual expenditures for improvements and repairs to owner-occupied homes are projected to decrease this year and into 2025Q1, according to the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University.