News
Canadian Building Permits Down in March
Canadian building permits in March dropped 9.3% from February to $11.7 billion (CAD) but were up 5.2% from the year-ago period. Residential authorizations rose 4.7% from February to $7.9 billion but fell 3.2% from March 2021. Single-family totals reached $3.7 billion, grew 3.3% from February but were 4.2% lower than the prior year. Multi-family levels
April Mexico Manufacturing Improves
The seasonally adjusted IHS Markit Mexico Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) in April was 49.3, up 0.1 points from March though still in its 26th straight month of contraction. Input costs remained at a near-record high and companies reported further declines in demand and output while inflation hit a 46-month high. The PMI index is
CPA Spring Meeting Starts this Week
The 2022 CPA Spring Meeting at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa in Dana Point, CA, begins this weekend with over 300 attendees, guests and spouses representing nearly 110 companies. The Spring Meeting program starts with the annual golf tournament on Sunday at 8 a.m. followed by the Welcome Reception at 6 p.m. The
TFL Shipments Report Available to Members
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CPA Welcomes New Associate Member
The CPA Board of Directors recently voted to approve the following new Associate Member. Orepac Building Products, Wilsonville, OR, is a wholesale distributor of building products servicing a large variety of market segments. The membership will be represented by Glenn Dutton. See Orepac Building Products More Info: Jeannie Ervin
Fastmarkets RISI Particleboard and MDF Commentary Published
The April issue of the Particleboard and MDF Commentary has been published and includes a detailed economic analysis of the North American market. The Commentary is published by Fastmarkets RISI monthly and permits CPA to republish issues on a quarterly basis as a benefit to members. See Particleboard and MDF Commentary
Canadian 2022 Federal Budget Released
On April 7, Canada released its 2022 federal budget, “A Plan to Grow Our Economy and Make Life More Affordable.” The budget is focused on Canada’s post-pandemic recovery, encompassing issues such economic growth and resiliency, housing affordability and climate change. Funding programs of potential relevance to the composite panel industry, include: $15 billion over five
Arauco to Expand Grayling TFL Production
Arauco North America, Atlanta, GA, announced a $20 million investment to expand TFL operations in Grayling, Michigan. The new lamination line will be the particleboard mill’s third and is expected to be operational in late 2023. See Arauco North America
March U.S. Construction Spending Rises Slightly
U.S. construction spending in March was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.73 trillion, up 0.1% from February and an 11.7% increase over the year prior. Private construction spending rose 0.2% from February to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.38 trillion. Residential totals for March were 1.0% higher than the previous month
U.S. Manufacturing Shipments Up in March
Seasonally adjusted shipments for all U.S. manufacturing industries in March were up 2.3% from February to $556.4 billion. Wood product shipments in March were $12.2 billion, unchanged from the prior month. Shipments of furniture and related products rose 0.5% from February to $6.34 billion. New orders for all U.S. manufacturing increased 2.2% from February to
March U.S. Kitchen and Bath Sales Continue Double-Digit Increases
U.S. kitchen and bath cabinet sales in March were 11.3% higher than the comparable month in 2021 and jumped 22.9% from February, according to the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association’s (KCMA) monthly Trend of Business member survey. Semi-custom sales increased 3.3% from March 2021 and 23.2% from February. Custom cabinetry sales soared 17.4% over March of
Furniture Orders Down in February
U.S. residential furniture factory orders in February fell 20% from the comparable month in 2021 but grew 34% from the same period in 2020. In February, 75% of participants reported decreases. Year-to-date orders dropped 16% compared to 2021 but were 31% higher than 2020. Furniture shipments were unchanged compared to February 2021 but jumped 18%