Chuck Miller Construction Inc.
5867 W. Hidden Springs Dr.
Hidden Springs, Idaho 83714
208.229.2553 office
208.571.0755 cell
208.229.2554 fax
Reg #: RCE-91
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With caution, Americans still want a house
By Ben Rooney
Staff Reporter
April 6, 2010: 2:10 PM ET
Nearly two-thirds of Americans would still prefer to own a home, although the recent housing market turmoil and uncertain economy have made them a little more cautious about how and when, according to a survey released Tuesday.
http://money.cnn.com/2010/04/06/real_estate/FannieMae_homeowner_survey/ |
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When Will Sky-High Lumber Prices Head Downward?
While lumber prices have spiked in recent weeks to a level not seen since May of 2006, NAHB economists cited in the cover story of the latest Nation's Building News say that some relief is on the way as supply problems are alleviated over time. For the week ended April 2, the Random Lengths composite index for framing softwood prices hit $328, the highest it has been since the housing boom was near its peak in May of 2006. There are several reasons for the latest price spikes. For example, distributors have been rebuilding their thin inventories at the same time that lumber companies have throttled back on production and laid off workers coming out of the economic recession, resulting in a shortfall in supplies. Also, improving weather conditions have increased demand for home building and remodeling projects faster than the new supply of logs has been able to flow into the marketplace, and there are reported shortages of trucks for transporting logs and lumber in some parts of the country. So, when will supplies catch up with rising demand and allow for some relief in lumber prices? According to NAHB Senior Economist Bernard Markstein, the answer is this June.
http://www.nbnnews.com/NBN/issues/2010-04-05/Front%2BPage/3.html |
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General Inflation Remains Tame, But What About Construction Material Prices?
General measures of inflation are generally at a low level. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.4% in November. On a year-over-year basis, the CPI was up 1.8%. Core CPI (excluding food and energy) was flat in November, but up 1.7% on a year-over-year basis.
The more volatile Producer Price Index (PPI) for finished goods was up 1.8% in November, while core PPI rose 0.5%. On a year-over-year basis, the PPI was up 2.4% and core PPI increased 1.2%.
Meanwhile, a price index for materials used in single-family construction rose 0.5% in November but was down 2.3% on a year-over-year basis. Indeed, overall material prices for residential construction have generally been falling during the year.
However, the trend has not been so positive over the longer term. From November 2000 to November 2009, single-family building material prices have risen 32%. This compares to an increase of 24% in general CPI; 20% in core CPI; 26% in the finished goods PPI; and 16% in core PPI during the same period.
The greater increase in building materials prices is largely because of global industrialization, particularly in developing and less developed countries - China and India, in particular, and their demand for cement, steel, copper and energy.
This is certainly a troubling trend for the future of affordable housing - whether it’s housing for low income households or for middle class American families.
©2009, National Association of Home Builders
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Three-fourths of all American steel is recycled, part of the industry’s clear environmental commitment.
The Steel Recycling Institute (SRI) has announced that the overall steel recycling rate for the world’s, and America’s, most recycled material—steel—reached a record high of 83.3 percent. This means that more than 82 million tons of domestic steel scrap was charged in to furnaces, both in the United States and abroad, to make new steel products to be used by the steel industry’s customers in meeting consumers’ needs.
“All new steel made in the North America contains a minimum of 28 percent steel scrap with some processes using upwards of 90 percent steel scrap to make new steel,” said Bill Heenan, president of SRI. “Steel continues to be recycled at a higher volume than paper, plastic, glass, copper and aluminum combined, and the steel can still holds the distinction of being food’s and beverage’s most recycled container.”
More than 1.5 million tons of steel containers were recycled in 2008 at a rate of 65.2 percent. While more than 14,8 million tons of steel was recycled from automobiles at a rate of 106 percent. Recycling rates for automobiles are often near or over 100 percent as older vehicles being recycled are often heavier than new cars which are more fuel efficient through use of advanced high-strength steels, which are now available to automobile manufactures. These steel recycling rates accomplish much more than simply saving landfill space. For every ton of steel recycled, 2500 pounds of iron ore, 1400 pounds of coal and 120 pounds of limestone are conserved.
The SRI, through its regional operations staff, continues to work with communities to increase the volume of steel being recycled and diverted from landfills. An increasing number of communities are expanding their traditional curbside programs to include light ferrous (iron) materials, such as toaster ovens, clothes hangers and irons. To find where steel can be recycled in your locality, visit http://recycle-steel.org.
http://www.steel.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home |
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