Category Archives: Finance & Economics

Finance & Economics

Tariffs on Canadian Lumber Set To Double in Surprise Move—Sending Homebuilder Stocks Plunging

By Keith Griffith
Realtor.com News
April 8, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, United States

Homebuilder stocks plunged Monday following reports that the US is preparing to sharply increase tariffs on Canadian lumber, independent of President Donald Trump’s new “reciprocal” tariffs. …After reports of the new lumber duties emerged over the weekend, however, shares of homebuilders plunged swiftly Monday. …”Tariffs are the clear culprit for the stock market pullback and fears of recession,” says Realtor.com® Senior Economist Joel Berner. “Recession risk is especially poignant for builders.” …The latest round of tariffs, however, will likely increase materials costs for all homebuilders, to some extent, with a recent survey of builders finding that they expect an average cost increase of $9,200 per home as a result of tariffs. …Over the weekend, Moody’s Analytics Chief Economist Mark Zandi raised his outlook for the odds of a recession this year to 60%, up from just 15% a few months ago.

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Canada’s Economy Is Starting to Crack Under Trade-War Pressure

By Paul Vieira and Vipal Monga
The Wall Street Journal
April 7, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada

Canada’s economy was already stumbling a few months ago. Now, it is on the brink of recession because of President Trump’s tariffs. Canada’s economy is starting to shed jobs after months of tariff-fueled anxiety, while the outlook among businesses and consumers has become increasingly dour as one of the US’s largest trading partners braces for more pain to come. …Last week, Canada’s statistical agency reported that 33,000 Canadians lost their jobs in March, the worst jobs report in more than three years. On Monday, the Bank of Canada reported that businesses and households expect inflation to climb, and company executives warned they expect to pass on higher, tariff-fueled costs to customers regardless of the hit to consumer demand. …Canada’s fiscal and monetary outlook has also been complicated by the government’s decision to retaliate against the US. [to access the full story a WSJ subscription is required]

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Canadian economist warns of looming recession risk amid global turmoil

By Tammy Ibrahimpoor
CTV News Atlantic
April 7, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada

Canadian economists are sounding the alarm about a potential recession as global markets experience turbulence along with widespread economic disruptions due to the U.S. trade war. “We’ve already had a bit of a taste of this,” said Don Drummond, former chief economist of TD Bank, in an interview with CTV News Channel on Sunday. He pointed to flat employment growth in February and the recent loss of 33,000 jobs in March, stating, “I think that’s a precursor of weakness we’re going to have, particularly in the automobile sector.” Drummond also expressed concerns that the global economic slowdown could deepen, leading to widespread job losses in Canada. …Drummond warned that Ontario alone could lose as many as half a million jobs if a recession takes hold. …“That’s going to freeze their production processes and lead to layoffs as well,” Drummond said, also pointing to the global economic landscape.

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How will tariffs hit the residential construction industry?

By Wheeler Cowperthwaite
The Providence Journal
April 3, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, United States

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island [At the JLC Live Residential Construction Show] – What will tariffs mean for the residential construction industry? It depends. …Since all the other asphalt shingle manufacturers get their oil from Canada, the most likely scenario is that all the companies raise their prices, even if the shingles are produced in the US. Canadian shingle manufacturers will feel the most pain when exporting to the American market because of the cost of tariffs on their finished product, Hartnett said. Canadian wood: Manufacturers and sellers of anything wood related are going to feel the pinch. Wood is one of the most-used materials in residential construction (aluminum and steel are more prevalent in commercial and large residential buildings), and much of it comes from Canada. New Hampshire wood supplier Weyerhaeuser’s John Evans said much of their raw materials come from Canada, which will be hit by tariffs.

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U.S. Chamber Comments on Section 232 Investigation of Imports of Timber and Lumber

US Chamber of Commerce
April 1, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, United States

Dear Deputy Assistant Secretary Longnecker: The U.S. Chamber strongly opposes the establishment of tariffs or quantitative restrictions on imports of timber, lumber, and their derivative products such as paper, cardboard, and pulp. Imports of these goods do not represent a national security risk, as addressed below. Imposing tariffs on these goods would raise costs for U.S. businesses and home construction, undermine the export success enjoyed by the U.S. paper industry, and reduce incomes in many U.S. communities… It is unreasonable to suggest that imports of these goods represent a national security risk, in part because the chief source of imports in this sector is Canada, a NATO ally and North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) partner… It is not reasonable to claim that imports of these goods from a close ally somehow pose a threat to U.S. national security.

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Canada’s housing market projections point to slowdown from 2025 – 2027

The REMI Network
March 31, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada

Predicting Canada’s economic future remains challenging due to ongoing tariff disputes, reduced immigration targets, and changes in federal leadership, all of which contribute to housing market uncertainty. According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) latest Housing Market Outlook, these factors will inevitably influence rental housing demand. CMHC forecasts that in 2025, rent growth across most Canadian markets will slow as vacancy rates increase, ultimately leading to gradual improvements in rental affordability. As per the report, “We expect lower immigration and an increase in first-time homebuyers to continue to reduce rental demand throughout 2025 – 2027. Supply will continue to expand as new rental units are completed, leading to higher vacancies and slower rent increases.”

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Canada’s GDP grew 0.4% in January, following a 0.3% increase in December

Statistics Canada
March 28, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada

Real gross domestic product (GDP) grew 0.4% in January, following a 0.3% increase in December. Both goods-producing and services-producing industries were up, with 13 of 20 sectors rising in January. …Construction rose 0.7% in January as most types of construction activity were up. Residential building construction (+1.4%) was the largest contributor to the increase in January, posting its fifth increase in six months and bringing activity to its highest level since November 2023. Higher multi-unit construction activity in Ontario and greater activity in home alterations and improvements drove the increase in January 2025. Repair construction was up 1.2% in January, while non-residential building construction (+1.2%) posted its sixth consecutive increase, driven by higher activity in public and industrial building construction in January.

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Lumber Futures Near 2-1/2-Year Highs

Trading View
March 27, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, United States

Lumber futures rose toward $680 per thousand board feet, approaching a two-and-a-half-year high of $685 seen on March 24th, driven largely by the looming threat of additional tariffs. Proposed increases could raise Canadian lumber duties from around 15% to nearly 40%, a critical factor given that Canada supplies roughly 25% of U.S. lumber—even as some production has migrated to the U.S. South. Meanwhile, year-over-year, the housing market reveals modest contractions, with housing starts declining by 3% compared to the previous year and new home sales exhibiting similar softness, even as existing home sales show relative stabilization. This backdrop of enduring supply constraints—exacerbated by transportation delays and inventory hoarding—combined with the persistent, albeit slightly subdued, demand in the construction sector, underscores a market environment where tariff-driven supply pressures support elevated lumber prices amid ongoing uncertainty.

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Tariffs, seasonal demand drive flatbed trucking rate increases

By Alejandra Carranza
TruckingDive.com
March 26, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, United States

Flatbed trucking rates have surged over the past month as steel and lumber shippers hurry to stockpile inventory amid tariff whiplash threatening to roil their supply chains, experts say. A six-week increase in rates has led to the highest flatbed pricing to start a year since 2017, according to DAT, as freight repositioning combines with a typical seasonal pickup in construction and other industries. “Demand usually picks up in March and April as planti ng, building, construction, machinery imports, and nursery seasons gear up,” said DAT Principal Analyst Dean Croke. “…Last week, the average flatbed spot rate went up 4 cents to $2.13 per mile compared to the previous week. Meanwhile, the load-to-truck ratio for flatbed went up to 46.92 from 41.12 loads per truck.Shippers have pulled forward cargo imports such as machinery, lumber, metals and oversized flatbed freight to mitigate tariff uncertainty. 

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Natural resource indicators, fourth quarter 2024

By Statistics Canada
Government of Canada
March 24, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada

Real gross domestic product (GDP) of the natural resources sector remained flat (0.0%) in the fourth quarter of 2024, after experiencing a similar movement in the third quarter. In comparison, economy-wide real GDP rose 0.6% in the fourth quarter, following a 0.5% rise in the previous quarter. Real GDP weakened across a number of natural resources subsectors in the fourth quarter, with there being declines in the forestry (-1.3%), hunting, fishing and water (-1.2%) and minerals and mining (-0.1%) subsectors. …Despite the slight decline in real GDP, natural resource export volumes increased 5.0% in the fourth quarter, following a rise of 1.0% in the previous quarter. The increase was mainly attributable to the energy (+5.7%), forestry (+4.9%) and minerals and mining (+3.7%) subsectors… Natural resource prices increased 0.7% in the fourth quarter, following a decrease of 2.9% in the previous quarter. Prices increased in the minerals and mining (+5.5%), forestry (+4.2%) 

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Tariffs may accelerate Canadian lumber industry’s southward shift, hunt for new markets

By Mrinalika Roy and Seher Dareen
Reuters
March 20, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, United States

US President Donald Trump’s tariff threat could motivate more Canadian lumber producers to shift to the US southern border while accelerating efforts to find new markets, industry experts said. The levies are the latest in a nearly four-decade dispute between the neighbors over softwood lumber, used in construction, furniture and paper production. Levies on Canadian lumber could hit 40% if current duties of 14.54%, and Trump’s proposed 25% tariffs are added. …”Disparity in log costs and availability are the major drivers here, but Canadian investment in the region has certainly been partially motivated to moving operations where they avoid the impact of duties,” said Dustin Jalbert at FastMarkets. …”In 2004, there were only two sawmills owned by a Canadian manufacturer. Today, we have more than 50,” said Kyle Little, at Sherwood Lumber.” Canadian companies now produce more than a third of the volume of the largest producing region in the US – the US South.”

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How tariffs could raise home and auto rates

By Alyssa DiSabatino
The Canadian Underwriter
March 18, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada

If there is a prolonged trade war between the US and Canada, expect insurance rates… to rise in price. The industry notes there’s a lot of uncertainty about tariffs right now. But one outcome the industry can likely count on is increases to home and auto rates, says Steven Harris. …Although home insurance premiums haven’t increased as high as auto rates — in 2024 Q4, for example, personal property premium rates increased 7.3% from the previous year — consumers are likely to see any impacts from the tariffs appear on their home insurance policy renewal much sooner, says Harris. “And if building materials like software lumber are tariffed, and thereby more expensive to import, they’ll cost more to insure. …“Tariffs on building materials directly inflate rebuilding expenses, necessitating higher replacement cost coverage for homeowners.”

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US trade war could affect construction inputs in B.C.

By Jami Makin
Business in Vancouver
March 28, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, Canada West

The ongoing trade spat between the U.S. and Canada is impacting BC’s construction sector in ways that could bring short-term gain and long-term pain. At first, there could be an oversupply of lumber if Canadian softwood is taken out of the U.S. equation, resulting in lower costs for B.C. builders and developers, said Padraic Kelly, Vancouver-based director with BTY Group. But costs would later rise significantly, he said. “The medium- and long-term pain would be that if the American market is choked out, mills would close, supply would be constrained and costs would ultimately go up,” Kelly said. The total levy on Canadian softwood lumber going into the U.S. could total between 45% and 55%, taking into account anti-dumping measures introduced by the Biden administration and scheduled to increase this August. Other big-ticket impacts to B.C. construction could be the mechanical and electrical divisions within construction budgets, he said.

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Canadian lumber taxes could further increase new home costs

By Dave Gallagher
Real Estate News
April 9, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States

While the current tariff war is justifiably on the minds of many Americans, another type of import tax may be coming later this summer that could have a big impact on new home construction. …The US is preparing to raise duties on Canadian softwood lumber from 14.5% to 34.45%. …A final review of the levies will be published in August or September, with the rate increase taking effect then, according to the National Association of Home Builders. The NAHB has previously estimated that Trump’s tariffs could increase the cost of building a new home by $9,200. ….The proposal to more than double the tax would be a blow to Canadians, but it would also mean “driving up housing costs for Americans,” BC Premier David Eby said. …Some have praised the proposal, suggesting that it will give domestic lumber companies an opportunity to increase production, even if that means higher costs.

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Almost Half of the Owner-Occupied Homes Built Before 1980

By Na Zhao
NAHB – Eye on Housing
April 8, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States

Around 48% of the U.S. housing stocks dates back to the 1980s and earlier. The median age of owner-occupied homes has climbed to 41 years in 2023, up from 31 years in 2005 according to the latest data from the American Community Survey. The U.S. owner-occupied housing stock has aged rapidly, particularly since the Great Recession, as the residential construction continues to fall behind in delivering new homes. …As a result, the aging housing stock signals a future growing remodeling market. Older structures require updates to add new amenities or need repairs or replacements of old components. …Over the long run, the aging of the housing stock implies that remodeling may grow faster than new construction.

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Swedish forest industry calls US tariffs regrettable as pulp and paper exports face 10% duty

Lesprom Network
April 8, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States, International

The Swedish Forest Industries Federation expresses concern over newly imposed US tariffs on pulp, paper, and board imports from the EU, which took effect on April 5 at 10% and are scheduled to double to 20% by April 2025. The federation emphasizes that free trade is critical to the Swedish forest industry, which is heavily export-oriented, with 5–10% of its exports directed to the United States. Europe remains its largest market, accounting for around 60%. …The federation’s CEO, Viveka Beckeman, highlights that the sector depends on international demand. While timber has been excluded from the latest round of tariffs, it remains under review in an ongoing US investigation that may lead to import duties as early as November 2025. The industry, which employs approximately 140,000 people in Sweden either directly or indirectly, represents 9–12% of the country’s industrial employment, export, turnover, and added value. 

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Trump Tariff Showdown Will Dampen US Housing Affordability

Realty+
April 7, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States

US trade wars could have major implications for an already tenuous housing market….A price hike on building materials will likely make building affordable housing feasible, an approach that many real estate experts believe is crucial to resolving the housing market gridlock. The housing sector comprises over 15% of the US GDP and will be heavily impacted by tariffs on building materials such as lumber and steel. And 70% of imported lumber comes from Canada. The NAHB noted that the tariffs are “not only expected to raise the cost of building materials, which are up 34% since December 2020, far higher than the rate of inflation, but also wreak havoc on the building material supply chain. In turn, this will put even more upward price pressure on building materials.” …Uncertainty stemming from the newly unveiled tariffs has eroded consumer and investor confidence, which has, in turn, diminished homebuyer optimism.

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Global markets plunge on Trump’s tariff turmoil

By David Goldman
CNN
April 7, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States

US stocks opened lower Monday as markets around the world tumbled over concerns about how President Trump’s sweeping tariffs might upend the global economy and stymie US economic growth. Markets opened in bear market territory – a decline of 20% from a recent peak – after a historic rout in Asia and massive losses in Europe. The Dow fell 1,200 points, or 3.2%. The broader S&P 500 was 3.4% lower and opened in bear territory. The Nasdaq Composite slid 3.96%. The S&P 500 hit a record high less than seven weeks ago, on February 19. If the index closes in bear market territory, that would be the second-fastest peak-to-bear market shift in history. Wall Street’s fear gauge has surged to levels not seen since the Covid-19 pandemic as investors fret over the market’s next move. CNN’s Fear and Greed Index has slumped to its lowest levels this year.

Related coverage in:

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Wall Street reverses course after Hassett’s comments on tariff pause

Reuters in Yahoo! Finance
April 7, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States

Wall Street’s main indexes reversed course and moved sharply higher after White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said in an interview that President Donald Trump was considering a 90-day tariff pause on all countries expect China. At 10:20 a.m. the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 333.50 points, or 0.87%, to 38,614.49, the S&P 500 gained 79.99 points, or 1.69%, to 5,154.07 and the Nasdaq Composite gained 362.69 points, or 2.33%, to 15,950.47.

Related in the Associated Press: Stocks are sharply swinging down, up, then down again on Wall Street as markets try to assess the potential damage from President Donald Trump’s global trade war.

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Dow drops 1,100 points, crushed for a second day on fears Trump has ignited a global trade war

By Brian Evans, Alex Harring & John Melloy
CNBC News
April 4, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States

The stock market took another pounding Friday after China retaliated with new tariffs on U.S. goods, raising fears a trade war will tip the globe into a recession. The Dow Jones Industrial Average traded 1,130 points, or 2.8%. This follows a 1,679.39 point decline on Thursday. The S&P 500 slid 3.2% after the benchmark shed 4.84% on Thursday. The Nasdaq Composite shed 3.5% as many tech companies have exposure to China. …“The Trump administration may be playing a game of chicken with trading partners, but market participants aren’t willing to wait around for the results,” said Michael Arone, at State Street Global Advisors. “Investors are selling first and asking questions later.” Bank stocks tumbled in the premarket as worries of a U.S. economic slowdown grew. …The 10-year Treasury yield fell back below 4% Friday as investors flooded into bonds for safety. JPMorgan late Thursday raised the odds of a recession this year to 60% from 40%.

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US Manufactured Homes: An Alternative Means of Housing Supply

By Catherine Koh
NAHB Eye on Housing
April 3, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States

Manufactured homes play a measurable role in the U.S. housing market by providing an affordable supply option for millions of households. According to the American Housing Survey, there are 7.2 million occupied manufactured homes in the U.S., representing 5.4% of total occupied housing and a source of affordable housing, in particular, for rural and lower income households. Often thought of as synonymous to “mobile homes” or “trailers”, manufactured homes are a specific type of factory-built housing that adheres to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards code. …The East South Central division (Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee) have the highest concentration of manufactured homes, representing 9.3% of total occupied housing. The Mountain region follows with 8.5%, while the South Atlantic region holds 7.7%.

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US emerges as biggest loser in markets from Trump’s tariffs

By Richard Henderson and Sagarika Jaisinghani
BNN Bloomberg
April 3, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States, International

US President Trump’s shake-up of the global trading system is hurting US assets more than those in many of the big economies he has just slapped with additional tariffs. US equity index futures tumbled more than 4% after Trump announced a sweeping series of tariffs, and a gauge of the US dollar slumped. But the impact elsewhere was less extreme. The Stoxx Europe 600 was down 1.9%, while the euro was up 2.2% against the US dollar, hitting its highest level since October. A broad gauge of Asian stocks fell as much as 1.7%. The widespread selloff in global markets makes clear that investors don’t expect any winners from the latest — and by the far the largest — salvo in a growing trade war. But they also suggest the US itself might be one of the biggest victims of Trump’s protectionist policies. …Overall, the US dollar headed for its worst day in over two years.

Related in NPR: Dow drops 1,500 points on trade war fears over new tariffs

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Wall Street joins global sell-off as Trump tariffs fuel recession fears

By Graeme Wearden
The Guardian
March 31, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States, International

Donald Trump’s trade war is alarming the global markets, sending shares sliding in their worst month in over two years. Stock markets across the Asia-Pacific region are in retreat this morning, as investors fear Trump will announce swingeing new tariffs on Wednesday, which has been dubbed “Liberation Day” by the US president. Japan’s Nikkei has lost 3.9%, down 1,457 points at 35,662 points today, while South Korea’s KOSPI is down 3%, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 has fallen 1.7%. In China, which has already been hit by Trump tariffs this year. the CSI 300 is 0.9% lower. …Today’s selloff comes after Donald Trump told reporters that the reciprocal tariffs he is set to announce this week will include all nations. …On Friday, core inflation rose by more than expected, while consumer sentiment weakened to its lowest level since 2022. 

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Optimism Among CFOs Falls Amid Concerns about Tariffs, Uncertainty

Federal Reserve Banks of Richmond and Atlanta
March 26, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States

Economic optimism among chief financial officers dropped in the first quarter of 2025 amid concerns about tariffs and broader economic uncertainty, according to the CFO Survey, a collaboration of Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and the Federal Reserve Banks of Richmond and Atlanta. The economic optimism index fell from 66.0 in the fourth quarter of 2024 to 62.1 in the first quarter of 2025, almost erasing gains from a post-election jump. CFOs’ optimism about their own firm’s financial prospects also dipped. …In addition, “uncertainty” was in the top five respondent concerns. …Some firms focused on the uncertainty around tariff policy. “Lumber tariffs … could help or hurt our company,” one said. “Unpredictability … makes it very difficult to plan as a business.” …About a quarter of firms reported that changes to trade policy would negatively impact their hiring and their capital spending plans in 2025. On the sourcing side, almost 30 percent of firms planned to diversify supply chains.

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The construction materials most at risk for tariffs

By Sebastian Obando
Construction Dive
March 25, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States

Contractors are bracing for a new wave of tariffs set to take effect April 2, this time on certain material imported from Canada and Mexico — such as steel, aluminum and lumber. Though reports indicate the Trump administration could roll back the ultimate scope of this action, contractors say just the threat of tariffs can have an immediate impact on material costs. That’s why that looming deadline on Canadian and Mexican imports has already sparked concern across the construction industry, particularly around reinforcing and structural steel, curtainwall systems and Canadian lumber, said Steve Stouthamer, executive VP Skanska USA Building. Stouthamer talks about the materials most at risk, tariffs’ impact on budgets and negotiations and steps contractors can take to minimize financial exposure. …The Trump administration has indicated Canadian lumber will be included in the reciprocal tariffs. Lumber has already seen a significant increase, 10% to 15% in cost, in anticipation of this tariff.

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UK’s biofuels policy opens market for U.S. forest products

USDA Economic Research Service
March 25, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States, International

Since the UK formal departure from the European Union,” the UK’s renewable energy strategy has led to increased imports of biofuels like ethanol, biodiesel, and notably, wood pellets….This initiative has made the UK the world’s largest wood pellet importer, accounting for more than two-thirds of global imports since 2012. The United States has become the primary source of the UK’s wood pellet supply, providing 76% of total imports in 2024. Before 2010, wood pellets made up 1.6% of U.S. forest product exports, but by 2024, they accounted for 19.6%. Since 2012, the UK has imported 71% of U.S. wood pellets. The rise of U.S. wood pellet exports is a direct result of the UK’s initiative for more biofuel-based energy, creating a lucrative market for U.S. forest products. This chart first appeared in the USDA, Economic Research Service report, European Agri-Food Trade and Brexit: The First 3 Years of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

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US Consumer Confidence fell to a 4-year low, expectations for the future to a 12-year low

By Fan-Yu Kuo
NAHB Eye on Housing
March 25, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States

US Consumer confidence fell for the fourth straight month amid growing concerns about the economic outlook and policy uncertainties, especially potential tariffs. Uncertainties continue to weigh on consumer sentiment as consumer confidence dropped to a 4-year low and expectations for the future economy fell to a 12-year low. The persistent decline in sentiment has raised recession concerns as consumers have grown pessimistic about economic conditions. The Consumer Confidence Index fell from 100 to 92.9 in March, the largest monthly decline since August 2021 and the lowest level since February 2021. …The Present Situation Index decreased 3.6 points from 138.1 to 134.5, and the Expectation Situation Index dropped 9.6 points from 74.8 to 65.2, the lowest level since February 2013. This is the second consecutive month that the Expectation Index has been below 80, a threshold that often signals a recession within a year.

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Slight Decline in Rates Helps New Home Sales to Edge Higher in February

By Robert Dietz, Chief Economist
NAHB Eye on Housing
March 25, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States

A slight decline in mortgage rates and limited existing inventory helped new home sales to edge higher in February even as housing affordability challenges continue to act as a strong headwind on the market. Sales of newly built, single-family homes in February increased 1.8% to a 676,000 seasonally adjusted annual rate from a revised January number, according to newly released data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau. The pace of new home sales in February was up 5.1% compared to a year earlier.

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Remodeling soars to new heights but industry struggles to address labor shortages

JCHS – Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University
March 20, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States

CAMBRIDGE – The US remodeling market soared above $600 billion in the wake of the pandemic and, despite recent softening, remains 50 percent above pre-pandemic levels. However, industry fragmentation, inflation, and a shortage of skilled trade labor jeopardize the ability of the industry to fully meet demand. According to Improving America’s Housing 2025, a new report out today from the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, the extraordinary strength of the remodeling market has been supported by the aging of homes and households, as well as record-high property values, but far more investment is needed to address growing needs for energy efficiency and disaster resilience of the country’s 145 million homes. Five Takeaways from the 2025 report:

  • Pandemic Fuels Unprecedented Spending on Remodeling
  • Climate Change Necessitates Improvement Spending and Drives Up Insurance Premiums
  • The Housing Stock is Older than Ever and Substandard Conditions Must Be Addressed
  • Changing Demographics Affect Remodeling Spending
  • Fragmentation, Surging Costs, and Labor Shortages Hinder Remodelers

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Tariffs Are Going to Make DIY More Expensive

By Karuna Eberl
Family Handyman
March 20, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States

There is a 20% tariff on products from China and 25% on many goods from Canada and Mexico. What is sure is that they will increase the cost of DIY projects and home renovations, says Pelin Pekgun, at Wake Forest University School of Business. …“While prices will not rise immediately, higher material costs, potential shortages and supply delays could result in tighter renovation budgets in the coming months.” …One of the most significant products the tariffs will impact is lumber. More than 25% of cement and concrete are imported from Canada and Mexico, so the cost of pouring foundations and flatwork, such as driveways and walkways, will likely increase. …Many other building materials will likely get more expensive, including flooring, cabinets, countertops and lighting. Though not a direct consequence of tariffs, labor costs are also a growing concern in the construction industry, says roofer Michael Green.

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US Existing Home Sales Increased in February

By Fan-Yu Kuo
NAHB Eye on Housing
March 20, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States

Existing home sales in February increased to the second highest level since March 2024, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). This rebound suggests buyers are slowly entering the market as inventory improves and mortgage rates decline from recent high in January. Despite rates easing, economic uncertainty may continue to constrain buyer activity. Total existing home sales, including single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums, and co-ops, rose 4.2% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.26 million in February. On a year-over-year basis, sales were 1.2% lower than a year ago. The first-time buyer share was 31% in February, up from 28% in January and 26% from a year ago. The existing home inventory level was 1.24 million units in February, up from 1.18 million in January, and up 17.0% from a year ago. 

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The Conference Board Leading Economic Index for the US Fell Further in February

The Conference Board
March 20, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for the US declined by 0.3% in February 2025 to 101.1 (2016=100), after a 0.2% decline in January. Overall, the LEI fell by 1.0% in the six-month period ending February 2025, less than half of its rate of decline of –2.1% over the previous six months (February–August 2024). “The US LEI fell again in February and continues to point to headwinds ahead,” said Justyna Zabinska-La Monica at The Conference Board. “Consumers’ expectations of future business conditions turned more pessimistic. That was the component that weighed down most heavily on the Index in February. Manufacturing new orders, which improved in January, retreated and were the second largest negative contributor to the Index’s monthly decline. …We currently forecast that real GDP growth in the US will slow to around 2.0% in 2025.”

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US Fed Remains in Wait and See Mode

By Robert Dietz, Chief Economist
NAHB Eye on Housing
March 19, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States

The Federal Reserve remained on pause with respect to rate cuts at the conclusion of its March meeting, maintaining the federal funds rate in the 4.25% to 4.5% range. While the central bank acknowledged that the economy remains solid, it emphasized a data- and policy-dependent approach to future monetary policy decisions due to increased uncertainty. According to Chair Powell, the Fed “is not in any hurry” to enact policy change. However, in a small dovish step, the Fed slowed the pace of its balance sheet reduction, but only for Treasuries. …Although the Fed did not directly address ongoing trade policy debates (and particularly trade and tariff details expected on April 2) and their economic implications, it reaffirmed that future monetary policy assessments would consider “a wide range of information.” …Crucially, the Fed reiterated its “strong commitment to support maximum employment and returning inflation to its 2% objective.”

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US Sawmill Production Capacity Constant in 2024

By Jesse Wade
NAHB Eye on Housing
March 19, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States

Sawmill and wood preservation firms reported lower capacity utilization rates coupled with level production and capacity throughout 2024. Despite no growth in production in 2024, utilization rates have trended downwards since 2017 as sawmills have expanded production capability. Even with more production capability, real output has not followed as output remains lower than 2018. …The utilization rate for sawmills and wood preservations firms was 64.7% in the fourth quarter on a four-quarter moving average basis. As utilization rates have shifted lower, the gap between full production capability and actual production has grown. Actual production is typically lower than full capability due to multiple factors ranging from insufficient materials and orders to lack of labor. ..Sawmill production capacity has increased from 2015 but remains lower than peak levels in 2011. …There is room to increase production of domestic lumber, but current production levels remain much unchanged over the past several years.

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An Alaska logging site is an early casualty of Trump’s trade war with China

By Avery Ellfeldt
Alaska Public Radio
March 14, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States, US West

Canadian lumber company Transpac Group confirmed on March 13 that it’s largely shutting down its site on Afognak Island near Kodiak, effective immediately. Representatives of the company say that’s because earlier this month, China halted imports of U.S. logs in response to tariffs President Donald Trump imposed on Chinese goods. Charles Kim is Transpac’s CEO. He says the company is sending most of its staff home because it cannot find new customers despite trying to divert its products to other countries, including India. …The company has a contract for the logging site at Danger Bay on Afognak Island, just north of Kodiak. The site is owned by the Afognak Native Corporation, which could not be reached for comment. Kim says that contract also means it has certain obligations, including road building and maintenance. Transpac also harvests and exports timber from Canada, Oregon and Washington.

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Brussels eyes 25% tariffs in response to Trump

By Camille Gijs and Giovanna Coi
Politico EU
April 8, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: International

The European Commission is considering slapping tariffs of up to 25% on a broad range of exports from the US in response to tariffs imposed on steel and aluminum by US President Donald Trump, according to an internal Commission document. The EU executive wants to impose a 25% duty on a wide range of U.S. exports, including soybeans, sweet corn, rice, almonds, orange juice, cranberries, tobacco, iron, steel, aluminum, certain boats and vehicles, textiles and certain clothes, and various types of makeup. The total amount of US exports hit by the tariffs is €22.1 billion based on the EU’s 2024 imports, according to public Eurostat figures, falling short of the Commission’s estimates of hitting €26 billion to “mirror” the damage from Trump’s steel and aluminum tariffs. …EU capitals will vote on the countermeasures on Wednesday. If they go through, most of the tariffs are expected to take effect May 16.

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New Forests, Oji set up US$300 million forestry fund

By Tom King
The Asset
March 26, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: International

In a move that merges sustainable finance with industrial-scale environmental stewardship, Sydney-based natural capital investment manager New Forests has partnered with Japan’s Oji Holdings Corporation, one of the world’s largest pulp and paper producers, to establish the Future Forest Innovations Fund. With an initial commitment of US$300 million ( US$297 million from Oji and US$3 million from New Forests ), the fund aims to acquire and manage 70,000 hectares of plantation forests across Southeast Asia, North and Latin America, and Africa… The partnership signals an alignment between traditional manufacturing and ecological impact investing. Oji Holdings, which already manages 635,000 hectares of plantation forests worldwide, is leveraging this initiative to meet its 2030 net sequestration goal of 1.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year, integrating climate action into its global forest footprint.

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UK construction sees increased pine supplies as timber mix evolves

By Stephen Powney
The Timber Trades Journal
March 24, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: International

The UK construction supply chain is seeing an increase in imports of European Redwood (Pine) as European sawmills face significant disruptions that are impacting the availability of European Whitewood (Spruce), according to Timber Development UK (TDUK). TDUK has issued a Trade Note on the subject, reassuring members that this does not mean there is a shortage of timber available to the UK, but simply that the mix of species being imported is changing. The UK construction industry heavily relies on coniferous timber, with about 65% of our requirements being met through imports. European Whitewood (Spruce) and European Redwood (Pine) are the dominant species, but recent Bark Beetle infestations, geopolitical factors and changing forest management priorities have seen some European sawmill lines temporarily closing.

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China’s property market edges toward an inflection point

By Evelyn Cheng
CNBC
March 20, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: International

BEIJING — UBS analysts became the latest to raise expectations that China’s struggling real estate market is close to stabilizing. “After four or five years of a downward cycle, we have begun to see some relatively positive signals,” John Lam at UBS Investment Bank. …“Of course these signals aren’t nationwide, and may be local,” Lam said. One indicator is improving sales in China’s largest cities. Existing home sales in five major Chinese cities have climbed by more than 30% from a year ago on a weekly basis as of Wednesday. The category is typically called “secondary home sales” in China, in contrast to the primary market, which has typically consisted of newly built apartment homes. UBS now predicts China’s home prices can stabilize in early 2026, earlier than the mid-2026 timeframe previously forecast. They expect secondary transactions could reach half of the total by 2026.

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Bill restores wildland homeowners’ insurance

April 2, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics

The Arizona House of Representatives recently passed out of the House, a wildfire insurance risk modeling bill, designed to reduce homeowner insurance cancellations, and help residents in wildfire prone regions to obtain homeowners’ insurance. Sponsored by District 7 Representative Dave Marshal, the bill would reduce the insurance companies practice of “blanket” cancellations of homeowner insurance. The key element of the legislation would cause the insurance companies to apply a wildfire risk modeling assessment on “individual” properties rather than the “blanket” assessments practice of entire neighborhoods… Property owners who want a cozy home in a small canyon surrounded by dense brush and low-level trees are at great risk of losing insurance coverage and losing their home to fire.

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