Lumber prices slide to near four-week lows as demand cools

Lumber futures fell below $590 per thousand board feet, touching their lowest level in nearly four weeks, as weakening housing demand combined with rising physical availability to pressure prices. Demand eased as financing costs edged higher and housing activity cooled. US pending home sales fell 9.3% month on month in December 2025, according to data from the National Association of Realtors, removing a key source of construction- and renovation-related wood consumption ahead of the spring building season. At the same time, sawmills continued operating at elevated rates following winter supply tightness, aiming to rebuild inventories. The ...