This report contains brief excerpts from our full 12-page newsletter, which includes prices of more than 1,600 lumber and panel items, plus detailed summaries of market activity. Contact Random Lengths for a free sample issue.

Random Lengths Lumber Market Report

	This Week Sep 3	Last Week Aug 27	Year Ago 2009
Random Lengths Framing Lumber Composite Price*	$248	$247	$239
KD Western S-P-F #2&Btr 2x4 R/L Mill Price	225	227	190
KD Eastern S-P-F #1&2 2x4 R/L, delivered Great Lakes	310	309	288
Green Douglas Fir Std&Btr 2x4 R/L (Portland)	200	207	155
Southern Pine (Westside) #2 2x4 R/L	244	234	233
KD Coast Hem-Fir Std&Btr 2x4 R/L	220	220	195
Ponderosa Pine (Inland) #2&Btr 1x12 R/L	515	515	530
* Weighted average of 15 key items

Most framing lumber traders were glad to put August behind them and look ahead to a three-day weekend. Sales sputtered the entire week. With many buyers heading for the weekend by midday Thursday, a sales pace was almost undetectable that day. Dealers made some purchases, but these tended to be highly specified and require quick shipment. Other dealers cited seasonal factors for working inventories lower. Distribution yards and office wholesalers relied heavily on truckloads from reloads to replenish inventories and fill customers' specified needs.

Random Lengths Panel Market Report

(f.o.b. mill prices)	This Week Sep 3	Last Week Aug 27	Year Ago 2009
Random Lengths Structural Panel Composite Price*	$293	$294	$289
Southern (west-east) 15/32-inch 3-ply rated sheathing plywood	305-332	305-325	295-315
Southern (west-east) 15/32-inch 4-ply rated sheathing plywood	318-350	315-340	317-335
Western 1/2-inch 4-ply rated sheathing plywood	310	306	306
North Central 7/16-inch Oriented Strand Board	170	175	191
*Weighted average of 11 key items

Structural panel markets played to mixed reviews. Better action in plywood didn't carry over into OSB. Sales were spotty at best in most regions, and prices edged downward. Even with Hurricane Earl churning toward the East Coast, demand remained lukewarm. Sales of Southern Pine plywood picked up steam in the middle of the week, with many producers boasting rated sheathing order files into the week of September 20 by Friday. Modest but steady western Fir plywood sales were weighted to distributors and other customers in the Northeast, supporting the perception that Atlantic storms fueled orders.

Industry News In "Through A Knothole"

Below are headlines of recent articles in the "Through A Knothole" section of our full 12-page newsletter, featuring articles of interest to the industry, including production/price trends, market analysis, trade issues, timber supplies, and much more. Contact Random Lengths for a free sample issue.

This Week in the "Through a Knothole" Section of Random Lengths
Random Lengths was published this week in an abbreviated 8-page format excluding the regular “Through a Knothole” section of the newsletter. This is customary for the week preceding the Labor Day holiday. Our regular schedule resumes with the full 12-page issue on September 10.

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Random Lengths Lumber and Panel Market Report

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Random Lengths Lumber Market Report

Random Lengths Panel Market Report

Industry News In "Through A Knothole"

This Week in the "Through a Knothole" Section of Random Lengths