Lumber Futures Synopsis
- For decades the price of lumber futures mostly stayed in a range of $240 to $440.
- In February of 2020, pre-pandemic, lumber futures were about $400.
- In May of 2021, lumber futures approached $1700.
- Futures are now $795, nearly double the pre-pandemic price.
Framing Lumber Prices
The National Association of Home Builders discusses the relationship between lumber futures and Framing Lumber Prices.
Skyrocketing lumber prices in 2020 and early 2021 caused the average price of a new single-family home to increase by nearly $30,000. The latest framing lumber prices are down significantly from their peak in May, but are trending upward yet again. NAHB continues to work with government officials to develop long-term solutions to the broader supply challenges that threaten housing affordability across the nation.
The price tracker above provides an overview of the behaviors within the U.S. framing lumber pricing market. The information is sourced each week using the Random Lengths Framing Lumber Composite which is comprised using prices from the highest volume-producing regions of the U.S. and Canada.
Biden Doubles Tariff On Canadian Lumber
Please note Biden Joins the Lumber Trade Wars.
President Biden says he feels your pain regarding inflation, and he’s made public-relations moves to show it, begging ports to move goods faster and OPEC to produce more oil. Too bad his Administration’s policies reveal different priorities.
The Commerce Department said last week that it will double the average tariff on Canadian softwood lumber to 17.9% from 8.99%. Softwoods like spruce and pine are the backbone of light construction, and a steady supply is key to restraining the rising cost of home building. For decades U.S. sawmills haven’t been able to meet domestic demand, but they’ve leaned on government to protect their market share.
There’s rarely a good time for trade restrictions, but the timing of this one is tragicomical. The same month Commerce revealed its tariff plan, lumber hit a record price of $1,650 per thousand board-feet, more than three times the level before pandemic supply shortages began.
The Biden Administration’s tariff resumes the U.S.-Canada lumber war where President Trump left off. After a 2006 agreement on softwood lumber expired in 2015, Trump Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross later proposed to raise tariffs on imports.
President Biden campaigned against his predecessor’s tariffs, but his trade policy in office has been nearly as protectionist. The Administration’s priority is pleasing unions and favored businesses, not reducing inflation.
Biden Joins Trump’s Lumber War
Apparently an additional $30,000 to the price of an average home is OK with president Biden.
Perhaps the tariffs will save a hundred US lumber jobs. Perhaps not because it will likely stall the construction of thousands of new homes by making them even more unaffordable.
Turkey Hunt
Elizabeth Warren whines about the price of turkeys.
“Americans are paying record high prices for their Thanksgiving turkey while big poultry companies are paying billions in dividends, giving CEOs raises & earning huge profits. These companies are abusing their market power. I’m asking DOJ to investigate.”
In addition to the Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission is also in on the inflation witch hunt.
Inflation Witch Hunt
Please consider The FTC is on a Supply Chain Witch Hunt Looking for Price Gouging
The FTC is conducting a study into whether supply chain problems have led to anticompetitive behavior and higher prices.
Numerous companies including Amazon, Walmart, Kroger, Tyson Foods Inc., and Kraft Heinz Co. have 45 days to respond to an FTC probe into supply chain impacts.
Instead of looking into a mirror at Progressive programs, tariff madness, and inept Fed policies, Elizabeth Warren, Biden and his administration look under rocks hoping to find inflation witches.
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Mish
I felt that as a young man after my Masters fed up with academics and
wanting to see the world. I worked for
the USAID to monitor well-water quality in the Saharan countries and only came back to the US three
years later. The first day was the start of the festival Id el Kabir and
on every coiner there were 50 gallon drums full of sheep head being grilled. I
knew then that I was, like Dorothy, no longer in Kansas. I saw the same just
after in Guadeloupe the first day seeing a 50 ton local wooden trading vessel
with white sails bellowing running downwind from La Désirade to Les Saintes. I had the same flash of indescribable feeling of being
alive and in the world and happy what come may. That was the moment I decided
to marry my wife and we are still married.
magic of the sudden realization that you are somewhere where the beauty
combined with the dreamlike feeling brings out an almost sacred
revelation. If you read it you will find the same feeling of being young and in an adventure that you have wanted all your life.
Wait, aren’t these guys the so-called job creators?!
Should be fun watching Hannity suddenly be outraged about these tariffs.