VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 28, 2021 /CNW/ - After falling by -7% in July, US total housing starts for August 2021 increased by +4% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.615 million. For August 2021, total residential starts in the US shot up by +12.3% from the same month one year ago, when it was 1.416 million. Improving further over gains throughout this year, permits for future homebuilding in August were up by +6% compared to the previous month, when it was 1.630 million, to a rate of 1.728 million units. Indeed, August 2021 permits are up +13.5% compared to August 2020 when it was 1.522 million.
Western Spruce-Pine-Fir, Southern Yellow Pine East Side, Eastern Spruce-Pine-Fir 2x4 2year and US Housing PERMITS (CNW Group/Madison's Lumber Reporter)
Benchmark Construction Framing Dimension Softwood Lumber and Panel Prices: Historical Comparison (CNW Group/Madison's Lumber Reporter)
August starts of single-family housing, the largest share of the market and construction method which uses the most wood, was 1.076 million annualized, a -2.8% drop compared to July, when it was 1.107 million.
Once again single-family permits were almost flat, at 1.054 million units, +0.6% above July when it was 1.048 million units.
Benchmark Softwood Lumber Prices September & US Housing Starts August: 2021
Looking at lumber prices, after rising incrementally since Labour Day, for the week of September 17, 2021 the price of Western S-P-F 2x4 #2&Btr KD (RL) remained flat at US$480 mfbm. That week's price was up by +$33, or +7%, from one month ago when it was $447.
Benchmark Softwood Lumber Commodity Western Spruce-Pine-Fir Price: September 2021
STAY AHEAD of US housing price data by getting access to softwood lumber prices. Released every Friday for that week, since 1952 Madison's Lumber Prices is used by the forest products industry as a price guide for North American construction framing dimension softwood lumber. These are, of course, the inputs into US and Canadian home building materials.
US Housing 1-Unit Starts & Permits August and Benchmark Softwood Lumber Prices September: 2021
When compared to the same week last year, of $960, the price of Western S-P-F 2x4 for the week of September 17, 2021 was down by -$480, or -50%. Compared to two years' ago when it was $382, that week's price was up by +$98, or +26%.
Madison's Benchmark Top-Six Softwood Lumber and Panel Prices: Historical Perspective
Established in 1952, Madison's Lumber Prices is your premiere source for North American softwood lumber news, prices, industry insight, and industry contacts. The weekly Madison's Lumber Reporter publishes current Canadian and US construction framing dimension lumber and panel wholesaler pricing information 50 weeks a year and access to historical pricing as well.
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