US Housing and Lumber
US Housing Starts
Figure 1 shows monthly US housing starts since 2002.
Figure 1. US Housing Starts
Source: US Department of Commerce
US Softwood Lumber Availability
The chart for softwood lumber availability (Figure 2) looks very similar to the chart for US housing starts. “Lumber Availability” is the domestic production (total production minus exports) plus imports (often called Apparent Consumption). Note that Canada provides a substantial portion of the softwood lumber available in the US.
Figure 2. US Softwood Lumber Availability
Sources: US Department of Commerce, Western Wood Products Association, Southern Forest Products Association
US Hardwood Lumber Availability
US hardwood lumber availability is much less correlated with US housing starts (Figure 3). This is due in part to the industrial (non-housing) uses for hardwood lumber and the lag between when houses are started and hardwood-based products (floors, cabinets, furniture, etc.) are installed in houses.
Figure 3. US Hardwood Lumber Availability
Sources: US Department of Commerce, Hardwood Market Report
