Cuts in Western lumber production have not been enough to steady prices.
Cuts in Western lumber production have not been enough to steady prices. Random Lengths’ framing lumber composite index reached a record low of $195 in March (though it climbed to $222 in June) while Western softwood lumber production fell 29% year-to-date after falling 20% in 2008. Weak demand from very sluggish construction markets may be most to blame as orders and shipments also dropped 20% in 2008 and are down 27% year-to-date.
