Do lumber prices fluctuate?
Also asked, are lumber prices going up or down?
Lumber prices typically rise in the spring as builders stock up for construction season. Lumber futures settled 2% lower at $334.40 per 1,000 board feet on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange on Wednesday—down nearly half from the high of $639 reached on May 17, 2018.
Name | Price | Unit |
---|---|---|
Lumber | 375.60 | USD per 1.000 board feet |
Coffee | 1.14 | USD per lb. |
Cocoa | 1,836.00 | GBP per Ton |
Live Cattle | 1.05 | USD per lb. |
Considering this, why have lumber prices increased?
Lumber prices have increased due to a confluence of factors. A severe Canadian wildfire, an ongoing trade dispute between the United States and Canada and limited rail capacity are the main culprits. In some cases, builders have opted to pass the rising cost of lumber onto aspiring home buyers.
During 2Q2013, hardwood pulpwood prices declined $0.24 per ton or 0.6 percent from the 1Q2013 average price of $39.60/ton. Stumpage costs fell $0.16/ton, handling cost fell $0.05 per ton, and freight fell $0.03 per ton.