News
Canadian Retail Sales Dip in March
Canadian seasonally adjusted retail furniture store sales in March decreased 1.3% from February to $1.24 billion (CAD) and were 5.8% lower than the same month in 2022. Sales for building material dealers rose 1.6% from February to $3.9 billion but dropped 13.9% from the comparable period in 2022. Total Canadian retail sales receded 1.4% from
April Panel Shipments Report Now Available
The April Panel Shipments report is now available to members.
Safety Report for April Now Available
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CalPlant Announces Liquidation
CalPlant 1, LLC announced plans to liquidate the company and its subsidiaries’ assets including the rice straw-based MDF plant in Willows, California. The company gave employees a 60-day notice of the closing and plans to operate with a small workforce beginning in mid-July. See CalPlant Press Release
U.S. Housing Starts Increase in April
U.S. housing starts in April were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.401 million, growing 2.2% from March but 22.3% lower than the comparable month last year. Single-family starts rose 1.6% from March to 846,000. U.S. building permits in April were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.416 million, decreasing 1.5% from March
U.S. Builder Confidence Strengthens
U.S. builder confidence for new single-family homes in May climbed five points from April to 50, marking the fifth consecutive month of increases, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). The HMI component gauging current sales conditions grew five points to 56 and the measurement of sales expectations in
Architectural Billings Index Drops in April
The April Architecture Billings Index (ABI) decreased 1.9 points to 48.5, according to The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Economics & Market Research Group. A score above 50 indicates growth in billings, while a score below 50 means a decline in firm billings. Design contracts grew from 48.9 in March to 49.8. April billings were
Home Improvement Retailers Post Lower Sales
The world’s two largest home improvement retailers published first quarter 2023 financial results. The Home Depot, Atlanta, GA, reported Q1 2023 net sales of $37.3 billion, down 4.2% over the comparable period in 2022. Net quarterly earnings fell 8.5% from the same three months of 2022 to $3.9 billion. See The Home Depot The Lowe’s
Newly Built Single-Family Home Sizes Decrease
The median square floor area of a single-family home in the first quarter of 2023 was 2,261 square feet, down 2.1% from 2022, according to the Census Quarterly Starts and Completions by Purpose and Design and NAHB analysis. The mean square footage for new single-family homes was 2,469 square feet, dropping 1.9% from the same
April RV Shipments Decline
The RV Industry Association’s monthly survey of U.S. manufacturers reported April shipments totaled 31,216 units, dropping 45.4% from the same month in 2022. Year-to-date shipments totaled 109,816, a decrease of 52.1% compared to last year. See RV Industry Association
Canadian Retail Sales Dip in March
Canadian seasonally adjusted retail furniture store sales in March decreased 1.3% from February to $1.24 billion (CAD) and were 5.8% lower than the same month in 2022. Sales for building material dealers rose 1.6% from February to $3.9 billion but dropped 13.9% from the comparable period in 2022. Total Canadian retail sales receded 1.4% from
April Panel Shipments Report Now Available
The April Panel Shipments report is now available to members.