The correction in lumber prices will take time to reach consumers, AQMAT president Richard Darveau told La Presse.
“Lumber inventories purchased at high prices remain relatively substantial among retailers,” he said. According to Darveau, most retailers won’t want to mark down those wares until “the rebound in orders from builders and renovators to finish their high summer housing starts season,” which he added is shaping up to be strong again this year.
“Unless lumber dealers initiate sales or even ‘loss leader’ sales, especially in seasonal products such as treated lumber, I would not expect to see retail price declines as large as those seen in the major forest products futures markets,” Darveau concluded.
