Exchange operator CME Group is rolling out a new lumber futures contract aimed at boosting the trade in two-by-four derivatives, which has dwindled in recent years and exacerbated wild swings in America’s benchmark price for wood. The new contract will be fulfilled with a truckload of boards instead of a railcar full, which is about one-quarter the volume of wood, delivered to Chicago rather than a remote Canadian rail junction. The specifications will allow for eastern species of spruce, pine and fir, instead of only varieties that grow in the West. CME said it plans to launch the new futures under the ticker LBR early next month. It said the current contract that expires in May 2023 will be the last listed under existing specifications. The changes are aimed at [being] a reliable barometer for building costs and the housing market. (to access the full story a WSJ subscription is required)