Many framing lumber buyers stayed on the sidelines after Monday's U.S. holiday, and spurts of activity failed to develop any sustained momentum. Softening was reported in green Douglas Fir and Southern Pine, but overall price trends were mixed. While sales slowed, prices gained in Western S-P-F and western dry species. Meanwhile, extended production shutdowns in Eastern Canada, a lack of European stock, and tighter western supplies allowed Eastern S-P-F producers to sell into markets that they had not been in for some time.

* The index is a numerical representation of market activity, based on a ratio of western sawmill order files to inventories. In computing the index, the data are compared with similar data averaged over the past five years.

Source: www.RandomLengths.com, June 2008