Home sales were down across the board in December, with new, existing and pending home sales falling 7.3%, 1.0% and 4.3% respectively (Table 2). On an annual basis, however, the statistics all point to a recovery in the housing market. This recovery is likely to gain speed in 2013 because rising home prices and interest rates are sending a strong "buy now" message to those on the sidelines.
Forestry-Related Industry Performance-December 2012
By Suz-Anne Kinney
The manufacturing sector flipped from contraction to expansion in December, whereas the service sector expanded for the 36th consecutive month.Both finished 2012 above the breakeven line of 50%, indicating their expansion.
Last March, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) set forth a proposal to extend the designated critical habitat of the northern spotted owl to private forestland for the first time. In her piece about the initial proposal, Forest2Market's Suzanne Hearn urged the federal government to strike a balance among species conservation, healthy forestlands and support for rural economies when finalizing critical habitat designations. Fortunately, it appears the USFWS did just that.
Northwest log prices will rise throughout 1Q2013; Forest2Market projects the price of Douglas fir will average $625 per MBF by the end of the quarter, a high not seen since 2007.
In a recently released report on the Future of America's Forests and Rangelands, the United States Forest Service (USFS) noted a number of forestland changes expected over the next 50 years.
Forest2Market has been on the move this month, both literally and figuratively.
First, we have outgrown our space. We moved to Ballantyne in December of 2009, and now 3 years and 1 month later, we've moved across the office park to a larger office. Our new address is 15720 John J Delaney Drive, Suite 550, Charlotte, NC 28277. Our phone numbers remain the same.
Finally, we've added both export OCC prices and Sorted Office Paper (SOP) prices to our Market2Mill reports. See our press release below. And if you would like to learn more about our recovered fiber pricing products, visit our website at http://www.forest2market.com/products/Market2Mill.
Forest2Market Adds Sorted Office Paper and OCC Export Pricing to Market2Mill Recovered Fiber Reports
By LeAndra Spicer
Market2Mill, Forest2Market's recovered fiber price report and benchmark, is now reporting Sorted Office Paper (SOP) and Export OCC prices and market trends. In addition, prices are now being reported for the California/Nevada sub-region.
