Market could wait six months before seeing peak lumber prices again

A recent unexpected drop in Canadian lumber prices and futures, combined with declining mortgage rates, has potentially provided an opportunity for the struggling new home construction market to pick back up. So far, that opportunity hasn’t translated into increased building permits, housing starts, or builder confidence. Furthermore, analysts caution that this window may not remain open for very long. The issue at hand is an ongoing Section 232 investigation by the White House. The investigation, which has been ongoing since March 1, is examining whether imports of wood products present a security threat to the US. Some ...