Georgia Building Material Suppliers Get Good News-Housing Starts and Construction Costs Rise

Wednesday, September 15, the U.S. Census Bureau announced that housing permits and starts for August were up from July. This is great news for building material supply businesses in Georgia:
Housing Starts in U.S. Climb to Nine-Month High
Sept. 17 (Bloomberg) -- Builders in the U.S. broke ground in August on the most houses in nine months, led by a jump in multifamily dwellings that overshadowed a decrease in construction of single-family homes.
In a related story, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its producer price index for residential construction:
A Bright Spot in Housing: Construction Costs
Yesterday the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its producer price index for residential construction. Its significant increase from July to August is a good sign for the housing market.
One major component of construciton costs continues to falter:
CME lumber ends lower on easier cash market

Residential Construction and Mortgage Applications Increase, New Plywood Plants, Lumber Production Falls

Mortgage applications rise 17% -Random Lengths WoodWire
The Index of Mortgage Applications from the Mortgage Bankers Association increased 17% to a reading of 648 for the week ending September 4.
Western lumber production fell for third straight year -Random Lengths WoodWire
Lumber production at mills in the 12 western states declined for the third consecutive year in 2008
Perfecta Foret plans to open new plywood plants in Quebec
Moscow. Sep 09, 2009. /Lesprom Network/. Start-up company Perfecta Foret plans to open new five-ply glue-laminated plywood plants in two former lumber mills in Quebec. The company received $C1.2 million in loans from Canada's Regional Growth program to offset costs of refurbishing the former mills, which include Scierie L.B. in Lac-Bouchette and Scierie P.H. Lemay in Saint-Francois-de-Sales. The total investment is expected to reach $C5.7 million.
Construction spending down 0.2% in July; 3-4% further drop expected through Winter -Reed Construction Data
Offsetting the residential gains, the decline is accelerating in nonresidential markets.
Single family market expanding slowly; multifamily market shrinking rapidly -Reed Construction Data
Residential construction spending is forecast to jump 18% from the end of 2009 to the end of 2010.