News
Fall Meeting Registration Continues, Exhibit and Sponsor Opportunities Available
Registration is ongoing for CPA’s 2023 Fall Meeting, October 22 to 24, at the Lansdowne Resort in Leesburg, Virginia. The resort is located 12 miles from the Washington Dulles Airport (IAD) and is accessible to Reagan National (DCA) and Baltimore Washington (BWI) airports. Hotel reservations can be made at the discounted room rate of $279
CPA LinkedIn Initiative Ongoing
Earlier this month, CPA launched a LinkedIn initiative developed through CPA’s Digital Subcommittee. To participate, members can display a “member badge” on their LinkedIn profile and add CPA volunteerism to enhance their professional experience. The goal is for members to gain visibility and foster networking within the industry. See LinkedIn Initiative. More Info: Anna Linehan
July U.S. Housing Starts Up
U.S. housing starts in July were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.45 million, increasing 3.9% from June and 5.9% higher than the comparable month last year. Single-family starts rose 6.7% to 983,000 over June. U.S. building permits were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.44 million, growing 0.1% from June but declining
Canadian Wood Product Sales Increase in June
Seasonally adjusted Canadian wood product sales in June were $2.9 billion (CAD), up 3.1% from May but 27.0% lower last year’s comparable month. Sales of furniture and related products totaled $1.4 billion, increasing 5.4% from May but dropping 3.1% over June 2022. Canadian manufacturing sales for all industries were $71.5 billion, declining 1.7% from May
Construction Investment Declines in Canada
Canadian building construction investment in June decreased 3.1% from May to $18.0 billion (CAD). Residential construction spending dropped 4.5% to $12.1 billion in June. Seasonally adjusted single-family construction spending was 5.7% lower than May at $6.2 billion. Multi-unit levels fell 3.1% to $5.9 billion in June. Non-residential totals dipped 0.2% to $5.9 billion. See Statistics Canada
July Canadian Housing Starts Trend Improves
The monthly standalone seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of Canadian housing starts in July was 254,966 units, 10.1% lower than June. The SAAR of urban starts declined 10.8% from the previous month to 234,857. Multiple urban starts dropped 12.3% to 193,446 and single-family levels decreased 3.6% from June to 41,411. The trend in housing starts
Canadian Furniture Retail Sales Up Month-Over-Month
Canadian seasonally adjusted retail furniture store sales in June increased 1.3% from May to $1.17 billion (CAD) but were 8.8% lower than the same month in 2022. Sales for building material dealers fell 1.4% from May to $3.85 billion and were 9.0% lower than June 2022. Total Canadian retail sales grew 0.1% from May to
Behr Announces 2024 Color of the Year
Behr revealed that its 2024 color of the year is “Cracked Pepper,” a “soft black shade that accentuates the spaces you create life moments in.” Other major paint companies, including Glidden and Valspar, announced statement colors featuring calming hues for 2024. See Behr
Upcoming Industry Conference
The Forest Products Society (FPS) is hosting its 7th biennial international conference on Processing Technologies for the Forest and Bio-Based Products Industries from October 30-November 30. The conference will be held on St. Simons Island, GA. See FPS Conference
West Fraser Names New President & CEO; Ferris to Retire
West Fraser, Vancouver, BC, announced that Sean McLaren will become President and Chief Executive Officer on January 1, 2024. McLaren succeeds Ray Ferris, who will retire at the end of 2023 after holding the position since 2019. McLaren has been with the organization and its predecessor companies for 35 years, most recently serving as Chief
Canada Launches Forest Sector Innovation Funding Programs
On August 10, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) launched three forest products sector innovation funding programs, including Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT). Selected IFIT projects receive up to $10 million as a non-repayable contribution towards innovative technologies or products, sector decarbonization and improvements in resource use efficiency. Other funding opportunities include the Green Construction through
Innovation Awards Submission Deadline Extended
The deadline to apply for CPA’s inaugural Innovation Awards has been extended to September 1, 2023, to accommodate additional member interest. This newly launched awards program, developed and managed by CPA’s Decorative Surfaces Council (DSC), recognizes significant and creative advances in technology, product development and service solutions in the industry. The new awards program is