LOUISIANA OUTLOOK

JAMES L. DUKE execudve

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but spotty conditions are common. Most members are experiencing much better sales than last year. Housing starts reached 1.7 million units in'83, 6090 ahead of 1982. We still maintain there will be a decline in interest rates in early '&4.

Market prices for lumber are strong and rising. Plywood will no doubt follow along. A large increase in gypsum board went into effect Jan. l. You can't sell out of an empty wagon, but inventory control insurance is now a reality with approval given by the Worken Compensation Court of Oklahoma. Any OLA member retail or wholesale flrm is now eligible to apply for participation.

An education and training specialist has been added to the professional staff of the association, Arlene O'Mdley, director of education and training. Memben of the Retail Lumbcr and Building Materials Dealers Legislative Action Committee, a combined effort with the Mid-America Lumbermens Ass(riation, in preparation for the next session of the Oklahoma Legislature have r€taind James E. Walker, an Oklahoma City attorney, as a lobbyist. He will make periodic reports which will be distributed to all retail lumber and building materials dealers in our state.

Coley Ghomrawi of the OLA staff has become member scrvices director. An employment referral systern for membets is one of the new services being initiated.