-
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Sonora lumber mill to reopen in 2011
TUOLUMNE COUNTY, CA
News10.net The owners of a Sonora sawmill that closed down one year ago announced plans Tuesday to reopen the retooled plant in 2011.
When the mill owned by Sierra Pacific Industries closed its doors in August, 2009, due to weak lumber demand, smaller harvests, and greater regulatory costs, approximately 130 employees lost their jobs. By updating the mill to accept logs of more sizes to diversify its market, SPI area manager Ryan Land said the plan is to hire about the same number of workers.
Retooling the facility, which first started operations in 1901, is expected to begin in mid-July with reopening scheduled for May 2011, Land said. "We are investing in the future of this community," Land said in a prepared statement. "Lumber markets have improved modestly and by increasing the range of acceptable log sizes we will be able to bring family-wage jobs back to this area."
Anderson, California-based Sierra Pacific Industries owns and manages nearly 1.9 million acres of timber in California and Washington, making it the second largest lumber producer in the U.S.
News10/KXTV
Copyright 2010 / All Rights Reserved
Friday, June 4, 2010
Forestry sector sees higher sales
Forestry sector sees higher sales
From Herald News Services June 4, 2010
Lumber - Alberta's forest products industry increased first-quarter sales by 11.7 per cent to $539 million on stronger demand for lumber.
"There is some reason for optimism in our industry," said Brady Whittaker, president and CEO of the Alberta Forest Products Industry, in a news release Thursday. "Stronger demand and higher prices are helping the forestry sector and creating jobs in communities across Alberta."
Rising demand from U.S. home builders helped lumber producers sell more product at higher prices with total sales of $184 million. Shipments rose 15.6 per cent and prices jumped 70.5 per cent from the first quarter of 2009.
© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald
From Herald News Services June 4, 2010
Lumber - Alberta's forest products industry increased first-quarter sales by 11.7 per cent to $539 million on stronger demand for lumber.
"There is some reason for optimism in our industry," said Brady Whittaker, president and CEO of the Alberta Forest Products Industry, in a news release Thursday. "Stronger demand and higher prices are helping the forestry sector and creating jobs in communities across Alberta."
Rising demand from U.S. home builders helped lumber producers sell more product at higher prices with total sales of $184 million. Shipments rose 15.6 per cent and prices jumped 70.5 per cent from the first quarter of 2009.
© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Construction Spending Grows in April | Transport Topics Online | Trucking, Freight Transportation and Logistics News
Construction spending rose 2.7% in April, the most since 2000, the Commerce Department said Tuesday.
The increase to an $869 billion level followed a revised 0.4% climb in March that was more than originally reported.
Economists had forecast no change in construction spending in April, Bloomberg reported.
Spending fell 11% in the 12 months ended in April. Private residential construction grew 2.9%, while spending on private non-residential construction projects gained 1.7%. Public construction spending rose 2.4%. Construction spending can boost demand for trucking services because spending increases the number of shipments of goods and building materials.
The increase to an $869 billion level followed a revised 0.4% climb in March that was more than originally reported.
Economists had forecast no change in construction spending in April, Bloomberg reported.
Spending fell 11% in the 12 months ended in April. Private residential construction grew 2.9%, while spending on private non-residential construction projects gained 1.7%. Public construction spending rose 2.4%. Construction spending can boost demand for trucking services because spending increases the number of shipments of goods and building materials.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Housing Data Wrap-Up: May 2010
Home Sales Got a Last-Minute Boost from Tax Credits
Wells Fargo Invenstments, llc
The April housing data show sales of new and existing homes received a significant boost from the extended tax credits to selected first-time and trade-up homebuyers. Sales of new homes surged 26.9 percent in March relative to the previous month and another 14.8 percent in April. That is when buyers needed to have purchase contracts signed in order to qualify for the $8,000 homebuyer tax credit. Sales of existing homes, which reflect closings, rose more modestly, climbing 7.0 percent in March and 7.6 percent in April. Buyers have until June 30 to close on their purchased homes, which means existing home sales should continue to benefit from the program over the next two months.
Questions are surfacing as to what the ending of the homebuyers’ tax credit will mean for sales, construction and home prices during the second half of the year. There is little doubt that the tax credit have pulled some sales forward and first-time homebuyers are reported to have accounted for a large share of sales. The bounce in sales has helped builders clear out inventories, with inventories of new homes falling to their lowest level since 1968.
The surprising strength in new home sales in April, particularly on homes that have not yet been started, has raised hopes that the bounce back in sales might persevere beyond the June 30 tax credit expiration date. We doubt it. Builders have been able to reduce cycle times by streamlining their offerings, which has enabled them to continue writing contracts a little later than they would have otherwise. Many builders have been able to write contracts through mid-April and still deliver new homes by the end of June. The sharp drop in mortgage applications for the purchase of a home in May supports this notion, as does the recent run-up in prices for many key building materials. The rush to sign contracts and complete homes ahead of the tax credit deadline will likely lead to a sharp correction in sales, construction and prices in the second-half of the year.
Sales of existing homes have gotten less of an immediate boost from tax credits, with sales rising 7.0 percent in March and 7.6 percent in April. Existing home sales are tallied at closing and the deadline to close on homes and qualify for the tax credit is June 30. The latest pending home sales data show gains of 8.3 percent in February and 5.3 percent in March. Pending home sales likely rose further in April, which is when contracts needed to be signed to qualify for the tax credit. Sales will likely remain robust right up until the June 30 closing deadline, but we may not see the same spike in sales that we saw last fall, when sales got a boost from what people thought would be the end of the tax credit during what is usually a slow period for home sales. The net result was a huge spike in seasonally adjusted sales. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, sales actually declined in November.
The June 30 deadline means any rush in sales to qualify for the credit will result in less of a distortion in the seasonally adjusted numbers, which are already looking for an increase in existing home sales at this time of year. Moreover, the two-step process for qualifying for the tax credit may help avert a rush of closings right at deadline.
Once the tax credit program ends, home sales are likely to retest the lows hit following what was originally thought to be the end of the first-time homebuyers’ tax credit last fall. Mortgage applications for the purchase of a home fell 9.5 percent during the first week of May, 27.1 percent during the second week, and 3.3 percent this past week. The slide in purchase applications has been sharper and more immediate than it was last fall, suggesting the pullback in sales and new construction could be greater than many currently expect. Purchase applications have tumbled a cumulative 36.3 percent over the past three weeks, falling to their lowest level since 1997. By contrast, purchase applications fell around 34 percent last fall.
The latest Consumer Confidence report provided another piece of corroborating evidence. Buying plans for new and existing homes fell back to their lows hit late last year, which provided an early warning of the sharp pullback in sales that occurred late last year and in early 2010. Both drops have occurred amid sharply lower interest rates. Consumers appear to be more interested in refinancing their current mortgage rather than purchasing a new home.
Our forecast for home sales and new home construction has actually increased slightly from one month ago. Sales and starts from previous months were revised slightly higher, which means the arithmetic works out to a slightly higher number for the year. The longer run trend is very much the same, however, with a modest recovery gradually taking hold during the latter part of this year and housing starts gradually inching up toward a 1 million-unit pace by the end of 2011 but totaling just 840,000 units for the year as a whole. We look for starts to rise to about 1 million units in 2012. Housing prices are expected to decline a little further over the course of 2010, with a bottom being reached in either late 2010 or early 2011. Prices should rise modestly thereafter.
Wells Fargo Invenstments, llc
The April housing data show sales of new and existing homes received a significant boost from the extended tax credits to selected first-time and trade-up homebuyers. Sales of new homes surged 26.9 percent in March relative to the previous month and another 14.8 percent in April. That is when buyers needed to have purchase contracts signed in order to qualify for the $8,000 homebuyer tax credit. Sales of existing homes, which reflect closings, rose more modestly, climbing 7.0 percent in March and 7.6 percent in April. Buyers have until June 30 to close on their purchased homes, which means existing home sales should continue to benefit from the program over the next two months.
Questions are surfacing as to what the ending of the homebuyers’ tax credit will mean for sales, construction and home prices during the second half of the year. There is little doubt that the tax credit have pulled some sales forward and first-time homebuyers are reported to have accounted for a large share of sales. The bounce in sales has helped builders clear out inventories, with inventories of new homes falling to their lowest level since 1968.
The surprising strength in new home sales in April, particularly on homes that have not yet been started, has raised hopes that the bounce back in sales might persevere beyond the June 30 tax credit expiration date. We doubt it. Builders have been able to reduce cycle times by streamlining their offerings, which has enabled them to continue writing contracts a little later than they would have otherwise. Many builders have been able to write contracts through mid-April and still deliver new homes by the end of June. The sharp drop in mortgage applications for the purchase of a home in May supports this notion, as does the recent run-up in prices for many key building materials. The rush to sign contracts and complete homes ahead of the tax credit deadline will likely lead to a sharp correction in sales, construction and prices in the second-half of the year.
Sales of existing homes have gotten less of an immediate boost from tax credits, with sales rising 7.0 percent in March and 7.6 percent in April. Existing home sales are tallied at closing and the deadline to close on homes and qualify for the tax credit is June 30. The latest pending home sales data show gains of 8.3 percent in February and 5.3 percent in March. Pending home sales likely rose further in April, which is when contracts needed to be signed to qualify for the tax credit. Sales will likely remain robust right up until the June 30 closing deadline, but we may not see the same spike in sales that we saw last fall, when sales got a boost from what people thought would be the end of the tax credit during what is usually a slow period for home sales. The net result was a huge spike in seasonally adjusted sales. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, sales actually declined in November.
The June 30 deadline means any rush in sales to qualify for the credit will result in less of a distortion in the seasonally adjusted numbers, which are already looking for an increase in existing home sales at this time of year. Moreover, the two-step process for qualifying for the tax credit may help avert a rush of closings right at deadline.
Once the tax credit program ends, home sales are likely to retest the lows hit following what was originally thought to be the end of the first-time homebuyers’ tax credit last fall. Mortgage applications for the purchase of a home fell 9.5 percent during the first week of May, 27.1 percent during the second week, and 3.3 percent this past week. The slide in purchase applications has been sharper and more immediate than it was last fall, suggesting the pullback in sales and new construction could be greater than many currently expect. Purchase applications have tumbled a cumulative 36.3 percent over the past three weeks, falling to their lowest level since 1997. By contrast, purchase applications fell around 34 percent last fall.
The latest Consumer Confidence report provided another piece of corroborating evidence. Buying plans for new and existing homes fell back to their lows hit late last year, which provided an early warning of the sharp pullback in sales that occurred late last year and in early 2010. Both drops have occurred amid sharply lower interest rates. Consumers appear to be more interested in refinancing their current mortgage rather than purchasing a new home.
Our forecast for home sales and new home construction has actually increased slightly from one month ago. Sales and starts from previous months were revised slightly higher, which means the arithmetic works out to a slightly higher number for the year. The longer run trend is very much the same, however, with a modest recovery gradually taking hold during the latter part of this year and housing starts gradually inching up toward a 1 million-unit pace by the end of 2011 but totaling just 840,000 units for the year as a whole. We look for starts to rise to about 1 million units in 2012. Housing prices are expected to decline a little further over the course of 2010, with a bottom being reached in either late 2010 or early 2011. Prices should rise modestly thereafter.
Friday, May 21, 2010
NewsSun.com... Prepare now, relax later
In 10 days, the hurricane season of 2010 begins.Early predictions are that it will be a busy season. If you are like most people, you probably aren't ready. Which is why we're reminding you early and often that now is the time to begin stocking up supplies and inspecting special equipment, like the generator or roll-down shutters, to make sure all the pieces are there and everything is in working order.
The last thing you want is to be running around trying to find essentials or special equipment just before a storm is due to arrive. You'll have enough to do at the last minute -- like getting to the bank, filling your vehicle's gas tank, and checking books out of the library -- as it is.
Which means now is the time to make lists of what to buy and what to do.
Consult our hurricane special section Sunday, May 30, it will help you get organized.
Hurricane preparation does cost money, but starting early and buying a few items during each regular shopping trip can ease the pain by spreading those costs out over time.
Shopping before a hurricane is on its way also saves you from standing in long lines and having to listen to people vent their fears, or scare you with horror stories of storms past.
When buying food, remember you may be eating out of the can, so choose items that are edible without being cooked -- cold ravioli, for example, while borderline, is bearable.
The general rule of thumb is to have enough food supplies to last three days, because it typically takes that long for relief to arrive. But having a little extra on hand couldn't hurt.
Be sure to stock enough water, at least a gallon per person per day.
Now is the time to develop a plan.
Know whether or not you will stay home, how you'll get to where you're going, and when you should leave to get there.
Now is the time to collect important papers in one place so they can be easily found when other things will be on your mind.
Now is the time to make arrangements for your pets.
Now is the time to measure windows and buy lumber.
Now is the time to clear space in the shed or garage, so you'll have room to store everything that is outside.
Hurricanes are dangerous and need to be taken seriously, but they are also awesome, exciting examples of nature. The key is being prepared -- better snug as a bug, with a full stomach and thirst quenched, than ending up exposed, hungry and dehydrated.
It turns out the National Hurricane Center keeps six different lists of names for hurricanes, which they rotate. The names on the list don't change, unless one is retired because the storm was devastating. For those who are superstitious, the fact that the name list this year is the same as it was in 2004, might bode ill. Four storm names were retired that year: Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne. Three roared through here, and Ivan brushed by.
Be prepared.
The last thing you want is to be running around trying to find essentials or special equipment just before a storm is due to arrive. You'll have enough to do at the last minute -- like getting to the bank, filling your vehicle's gas tank, and checking books out of the library -- as it is.
Which means now is the time to make lists of what to buy and what to do.
Consult our hurricane special section Sunday, May 30, it will help you get organized.
Hurricane preparation does cost money, but starting early and buying a few items during each regular shopping trip can ease the pain by spreading those costs out over time.
Shopping before a hurricane is on its way also saves you from standing in long lines and having to listen to people vent their fears, or scare you with horror stories of storms past.
When buying food, remember you may be eating out of the can, so choose items that are edible without being cooked -- cold ravioli, for example, while borderline, is bearable.
The general rule of thumb is to have enough food supplies to last three days, because it typically takes that long for relief to arrive. But having a little extra on hand couldn't hurt.
Be sure to stock enough water, at least a gallon per person per day.
Now is the time to develop a plan.
Know whether or not you will stay home, how you'll get to where you're going, and when you should leave to get there.
Now is the time to collect important papers in one place so they can be easily found when other things will be on your mind.
Now is the time to make arrangements for your pets.
Now is the time to measure windows and buy lumber.
Now is the time to clear space in the shed or garage, so you'll have room to store everything that is outside.
Hurricanes are dangerous and need to be taken seriously, but they are also awesome, exciting examples of nature. The key is being prepared -- better snug as a bug, with a full stomach and thirst quenched, than ending up exposed, hungry and dehydrated.
It turns out the National Hurricane Center keeps six different lists of names for hurricanes, which they rotate. The names on the list don't change, unless one is retired because the storm was devastating. For those who are superstitious, the fact that the name list this year is the same as it was in 2004, might bode ill. Four storm names were retired that year: Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne. Three roared through here, and Ivan brushed by.
Be prepared.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Monday, May 17, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Friday, April 30, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Velocity LBM Point of Sale
Check out this SlideShare Presentation:
Velocity LBM Point of Sale
View more documents from Erin Milam.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Velocity LBM Overview
Check out this SlideShare Presentation:
Velocity LBM Overview
View more presentations from emilam5053.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
