This report contains brief excerpts from our full 12-page newsletter, which includes prices of more than 1,600 lumber and panel items, plus detailed summaries of market activity. Contact Random Lengths for a free sample issue.

Random Lengths Lumber Market Report

	This Week Jul 23	Last Week Jul 16	Year Ago 2009
Random Lengths Framing Lumber Composite Price*	$253	$255	$238
KD Western S-P-F #2&Btr 2x4 R/L Mill Price	218	217	178
KD Eastern S-P-F #1&2 2x4 R/L, delivered Great Lakes	323	320	285
Green Douglas Fir Std&Btr 2x4 R/L (Portland)	185	193	158
Southern Pine (Westside) #2 2x4 R/L	245	252	243
KD Coast Hem-Fir Std&Btr 2x4 R/L	225	225	200
Ponderosa Pine (Inland) #2&Btr 1x12 R/L	600	615	530
* Weighted average of 15 key items

Mixed price trends were widely apparent in framing lumber. Limited supplies figured prominently into most upward moves. Momentum from the previous week's activity was also a factor, with early gains giving way to a sideways drift in late trading. Some items, especially studs, were weak. Overall demand was spotty and sales lacked consistency. The Random Lengths Framing Lumber Composite Price edged down $2.

Random Lengths Panel Market Report

(f.o.b. mill prices)	This Week Jul 23	Last Week Jul 16	Year Ago 2009
Random Lengths Structural Panel Composite Price*	$323	$329	$263
Southern (west-east) 15/32-inch 3-ply rated sheathing plywood	338-365	350-368	265-270
Southern (west-east) 15/32-inch 4-ply rated sheathing plywood	345-370	355-382	267-272
Western 1/2-inch 4-ply rated sheathing plywood	342	339	272
North Central 7/16-inch Oriented Strand Board	197	205	174
*Weighted average of 11 key items

Structural panel markets were a grind. Sluggish sales left most OSB prices in a flat-to-down mode. Dealers and distributors let their inventories dwindle and purchased strictly on a fill-in basis. Southern Pine plywood producers worked harder to push rated sheathing for shipment next week into a market that lacked urgency. Mills approached buyers more aggressively, which helped most forge order files into the week of August 2. Western Fir plywood trading was subdued, but prices were largely stable.

Industry News In "Through A Knothole"

Below are headlines of recent articles in the "Through A Knothole" section of our full 12-page newsletter, featuring articles of interest to the industry, including production/price trends, market analysis, trade issues, timber supplies, and much more. Contact Random Lengths for a free sample issue.

This Week in the "Through a Knothole" Section of Random Lengths
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the insolvent backers of more than $5 trillion in U.S. mortgages, are starting to get political scrutiny, which could lead to major reform or even a phase-out of the agencies.
A weak June housing report has elevated wood products traders’ concern about their own struggling market.
Payouts to plaintiffs from the OSB antitrust case settlement are awaiting a judge’s approval, while a separate but similar class action lawsuit moves forward.

Random Lengths

Random Lengths Lumber and Panel Market Report

Go to: Lumber Report |Panel Report | Industry News in Through a Knothole

Random Lengths Lumber Market Report

Random Lengths Panel Market Report

Industry News In "Through A Knothole"

This Week in the "Through a Knothole" Section of Random Lengths